!£.£>£ 


' 


PUBLICATIONS  OF 
THE  ESSEX  BOOK  AND  PRINT  CLUB 

No.  I 

NEW-ENGLANDS 
PLANTATION 

&c. 


PLANTATION 


WITH 


The  Sea  Journal  and 
Other  Writings 


By  REV.  FRANCIS  HIGGINSON 

i  * 

First  Minister  of  the  Plantation  at  SALEM 
in  the  MASSACHUSETTS  BAY  Colony 


THE  ESSEX  BOOK  AND  PRINT  CLUB 

SALEM  MASSACHUSETTS 

1908 


ONE  HUNDRED  AND  SEVENTY-FIVE  COPIES 

PRINTED  AT  THE  RIVERSIDE  PRESS 

CAMBRIDGE,  MASSACHUSETTS 

FOR  THE   ESSEX  BOOK 

AND  PRINT 

CLUB 


Introduction 


EW-ENGLANDS 
PLANTATION," 

a  tract  published  in 
London  early  in  1630, 
contains  the  earliest 
printed  account  of  the 
colony  established  by 
Endecott  in  1628,  at  Neihum-kek,  now 
Salem.  A  description  of  the  natural  con- 
ditions surrounding  the  new  settlement  is 
also  preserved,  the  narrative  presenting, 
in  the  quaint  phrase  of  the  original,  "a 
short  and  true  description  of  the  com- 
modities and  discommodities  of  that 
countrey."  The  tract  was  written  by  the 
Reverend  Francis  Higginson,  who  came 
in  the  emigration  following  Endecott, 
and  who  was  eminently  fitted,  both  by 
education  and  profession,  to  prepare  for 
the  friends  in  England  a  faithful  account 
of  the  life  in  the  new  country,  not  only  to 
gratify  a  natural  curiosity,  but  also  to  at- 
tract a  further  emigration. 

[  5  ]  Francis 


M187277 


Introduction 

Francis  Higginson  probably  was  born 
in  Claybrooke  Parish,  Leicester,  Eng- 
land, in  1587-88.  He  received  his  degree 
of  M.A.  in  1 6 1 3  at  Jesus  College,  Cam- 
bridge, and  two  years  later  he  was  set- 
tled over  Claybrooke  Parish,  where  he 
preached  with  distinction  until  at  last  his 
nonconformity  brought  him  into  danger 
of  imprisonment.  About  that  time  "  The 
Governor  and  Company  of  the  Massa- 
chusetts-Bay in  New  England  "  obtained 
a  charter  from  Charles  I,  and  Higginson 
was  invited  to  join  the  party  which  was 
being  organized  to  make  the  first  settle- 
ment in  the  new  country.  As  minister  he 
was  to  have  equal  political  authority  with 
the  members  of  the  governing  council. 
He  accepted  the  invitation,  and  with  his 
family  landed  safely  at  Neihum-kek,  now 
Salem,  Massachusetts,  on  June  30,  1629, 
and  on  the  6th  of  August  following,  was 
ordained  teacher  of  the  church,  with  Sam- 
uel Skelton  as  pastor.  By  virtue  of  his  office 
he  became  not  only  a  spiritual  guide  but 
a  leader  among  his  people,  more  espe- 
cially during  the  trying  winter  and  spring 
following  the  arrival  of  the  ships.  The  ex- 
posure and  the  privations  endured  during 
that  time  proved  too  severe,  and  consump- 
tion laid  hold  upon  him.  He  died  August 
6, 1630,  "in  the  prime  of  his  life  and  on 
[  6  ]  the 


Introduction 

the  threshold  of  a  great  career,"  leaving 
a  widow  and  eight  children,  one  of  whom 
also  became  a  minister  and  served  the  Sa- 
lem church  for  nearly  fifty  years. 

The  manuscript  of  "New-Englands 
Plantation  "  probably  was  sent  home  to 
England  upon  the  return  of  one  of  the 
vessels  that  had  brought  over  the  planters. 
It  was  received  in  London  before  Novem- 
ber 20, 1 629  (see  Young's  "  Chronicles  of 
the  Colony  of  the  Massachusetts  Bay /'pp. 
107,  242).  Higginson  had  not  expected 
that  it  would  be  printed,  as  it  was  written 
for  "the  satisfaction  of  loving  friends" 
who  had  requested  a  letter  upon  his  ar- 
rival, giving  some  account  of  the  voyage 
across  the  Atlantic  and  of  the  newly  settled 
country.  Only  the  latter  part  of  this  letter 
was  printed,  the  earlier  portion,  describ- 
ing the  voyage,  not  being  deemed  of  suf- 
ficient importance  to  be  thus  preserved. 
Three  editions  were  published,  all  bearing 
date  of  1630.  The  author's  name  appears 
on  the  title-pages  of  the  second  and  third 
editions.  In  1634  was  published  William 
WoodV'NewEnglands  Prospect,"  which 
gave  much  detailed  information  regard- 
ing the  country  and  the  settlements  in  the 
Massachusetts  Bay.  This  superseded  the 
earlier  account  by  Higginson,  and  the 
latter  dropped  out  of  sight  and  in  time 
[  7  ]  became 


Introduction 

became  very  rare.  In  1792  it  was  re- 
printed in  the  Massachusetts  Historical 
Collections.  In  1836  it  was  included  in 
Force's  "  Tracts/'  and  in  1 846  in  Young's 
"  Chronicles  of  the  Colony  of  the  Massa- 
chusetts Bay." 

The  several  editions  may  be  described 
as  follows : 

FIRST  EDITION 

New-Englands  |  Plantation.  |  or,  |  A  Short 
and  Trve  |  Description  of  the  Commodities 
and  |  Discommodities  |  of  thatCountrey.  |  Writ- 
ten by  a  reuerend  Diuinenow  |  there  resident.  | 
[Printer's  ornament]  |  London,  |  Printed  by 
T.C. and R.C. for  Michael  Sparke,  |  dwelling 
at  the  Signe  of  the  Blew  Bible  in  |  Greene  Ar- 
bor in  the  little  Old  Bailey.  |  1630.  | 

Small  4to.  1 1  unnumbered  pages.  Collation : 
Title  ( i ), reverse  blank;  To  the  Reader,  signed 
M.  S.  ( i ),  reverse  blank ;  New-Englands  Plan- 
tation (17);  ends  "Finis."  Signatures,  B-  (D 
on  last  page). 

SECOND  EDITION 

New-Englands  |  Plantation.  Or,  |  A  Short 
and  Trve  |  Description  of  the  Commodities 
and |  Discommodities  |  ofthatCountrey.  |  Writ- 
ten by  Mr.  Higgeson,  a  reuerend  Diuine  |  now 
there  resident.  |  Whereunto  is  added  a  Let- 
ter, sent  by  Mr.  Graues  |  an  Enginere,  out  of 
New-England,  |  The  second  Edition  enlarged.  | 
[Printer's  ornament]  |  London,  |  Printed  by 
[  8  ]  T. 


Introduction 

T.  &  R.  Cotes,  for  Michael  Sparke,  |  dwelling 
at  the  Signeof  the  Blew  Bible  in  |  Greene  Ar- 
bor in  the  little  Old  Bailey.  |  1630.  | 

Small  4to.  27  unnumbered  pages.  Collation : 
Title  ( i ) ,  reverse  blank ;  To  the  Reader,  signed 
M.  S.  (i ),  reverse  blank ;  New-Englands  Plan- 
tajon(23);  ends"Fjnjs."  Signatures, B  (begin- 
ning with"  New-Englands  Plantajon  ")-D  [4] 

THIRD  EDITON 

New-Englands  |  Plantation,  or,  |  A  Short 
and  True  |  Description  of  the  |  Commodities 
and  |  Discommodities  |  of  that  Countrey.  |  Writ- 
ten by  Mr.  Higgeson,  a  reuerendDiuine  |  now 
there  resident.  |  Whereunto  is  added  a  Let- 
ter, sent  by  Mr.  Graues  |  an  enginere,  out  of 
New  England,  |  The  Third  Edition,  enlarged.  | 
[Printer's  ornament]  |  London.  |  Printed  by 
T.  and  R.  Cotes,  for  Michael  Sparke,  dwell- 
ing |  at  the  Signe  of  the  Blue  Bible  in  Greene- 
Arbor,  1630.  | 

Small  4to.  23  numbered  pages.  Collation: 
Title  ( i ),  reverse, To  the  Reader,  signed  M.  S. 
(2);  New-Englands  Plantation  (3-1 7);  [Or- 
nament] A  Letter  sent  from  New-England, 
by  Master  Graues,  engynere  now  there  resi- 
dent (18-19);  A  Catalogue  of  such  needfull 
things  as  euery  Planter  doth  or  ought  to  Pro- 
uide  to  go  to  N  ew-England,  etc.  (20—2 1 ) ;  The 
names  of  the  most  remarkable  places  in  New- 
England  (22-23);  ends  "Fjnjs."  Signatures, 
A7 ;  i  leaf,  B-D  in  43. 


[  9  ]  Copies 


Introduction 

Copies  of  the  several  editions  are  pre- 
served in  the  following  libraries : 

First  Edition. 

Harvard  University  Library. 

Essex  Institute  Library,  Salem,  Mass.  (This 
copy  has  title-page  and  last  leaf  in  fac- 
simile.) 

John  Carter  Brown  Library,  Providence,  R.  I. 

New  York  Public  Library  (Lenox  Library). 

New  York  State  Library,  Albany,  N.  Y. 

Library  of  Congress. 

Library  of  E.  D.  Church,  Brooklyn,  N.  Y. 

Library  of  a  Collector,  Brooklyn,  N.  Y. 

Library  of  Frederick  R.  Halsey,  New  York 
City. 

Library  of  Edward  E.  Ayer,  Chicago,  111. 

Second  Edition. 

Boston  Public  Library. 
New  York  Public  Library  (Lenox  Library). 
Library  of  E.  D.  Church,  Brooklyn,  N.  Y. 
Library  of  a  Collector,  Brooklyn,  N.  Y. 
Library  of  Henry  Huth,  London,  Eng. 

Third  Edition. 

Boston  Public  Library. 
Massachusetts  Historical  Society  Library. 
John  Carter  Brown  Library,  Providence,  R.  I. 
New  York  Public  Library  (Lenox  Library). 
Philadelphia  Library  Company.  (This  copy 

has  title-page  of  the  first  edition  bound  with 

text  of  the  third  edition.) 
British  Museum  Library. 
Library  of  Edward  E.  Ayer,  Chicago,  111. 

[   10  ]  In 


Introduction 

In  the  following  pages  the  first  edition 
of  "  New-Englands  Plantation  "  is  repro- 
duced in  fac-simile  from  a  copy  in  the 
John  Carter  Brown  Library,  at  Provi- 
dence, R.  I.,  through  the  courtesy  of  the 
Librarian,  Mr.  George  Parker  Winship. 
The  third  edition  also  has  been  reprinted 
from  a  copy  in  the  library  of  the  Mass- 
achusetts Historical  Society  for  purposes 
of  comparison  and  to  preserve  the  addi- 
tional matter  that  it  contains.  The  ac- 
count of  the  voyage  to  Neihum-kek  and 
other  writings  of  Higginson  are  from  the 
manuscript  formerly  in  the  possession  of 
Governor  Hutchinsonand  now  preserved 
by  the  Massachusetts  Historical  Society. 


CONTENTS 

PAGE 

"  NEW-ENGLANDS  PLANTATION/'  by 
Rev.  Francis  Higginson,  London, 
1630.  Fac-simile  of  the  first  edition  15 

"  GENERALL  CONSIDERACONS"  for  the 

planting  of  New  England  39 

THE  AGREEMENT  BETWEEN  MR.  HIG- 
GINSON  AND  THE  NEW  ENGLAND 
COMPANY  49 

A  TRUE  RELATION  OF  THE  LAST  VOYAGE 
TO  NEW  ENGLAND  IN  1629  by  Mr. 
Higginson  55 

"NEW-ENGLANDS  PLANTATION,"  Lon- 
don, 1630.  The  third  edition  85 

A  LETTER  THAT  MR.  HlGQINSON  SENT 

TO  HIS  FRIENDS  AT  LEICESTER  115 

NOTES  123 

INDEX  127 


NEW-ENGLANDS  PLANTATION 


NEW-ENGLANDS 

PLANTATION. 

OR, 
A  SHORT  AND  TRVE 

DESCRIPTION  OF  THE 

COMMODITIES  AND 

DISCOMMODITIES 

of  that  Countrey. 

Written  by  a  reuerend  Diuine  now 
there  refident. 


LONDON, 
Printed  by  T.Cand  1{.C  for  Wt 

dwelling  at  the  Signe  of  the  ?/w  titbit  in 


1630 


To  the  Reader. 

)Eaderydoe  not  difdaine  to  read  this 
Illation  $  and  looke  not  here  to 

haue  a  large  Gate  and  no  building 
within .  a  full-Jluffcd  Title  with  no  matter 
in  the  Booke  \  But  here  reade  the  truth,  and 
that  thou  fcalt  find  without  any  frothy  bum* 
bafted  ^ords^or  any  quaint  new*dcuifed  ad* 
dltlonsy  onely  as  it  Tbas  Written  (not  intended 
for  the  PreJJe  *)  by  a  reuerend  Ttiuine  now 
there  liwngjbho  onely  Jent  it  tofome  Friends 
here^hich  'frere  defirott*  of  his  Delations  $ 
'tohicbisan  Efitomy  of  t\mr  proceedings  in 
the  Plantation,  find  for  thy  fart  If  thou 
meanejl  to  be  no  Planter  nor  Venturer y  doe 
but  lend  thy  good  Prayers  for  thefurthrance 
of  It.  And  fo  J  reft  a  -ftetttwifier  to  all  the 
good  defignes  both  oftbemy>fricharegoney 
and  of  them  that  are  to  got. 

M  S. 


NEWENGLANDS 


Etting  paffe  our  Voyage 
by  Sea,we  wrll  now  begin 
our  difeourfe  on  the  fhore 
of  Nevr-EngUnA.  And  be- 
caufe  the  life  and  wel-fare 
of  -faerie  Creature  here 
below5and  the  commodi- 
oufhefie  of  the  Countrey 
whereas  fuch  Creatures  Iiue3doth  by-themoft 
wife  ordering  of  Gods  prouidence5  depend 
next  vnto  himfelfe,  vpon  the  temperature  and 
difpofition  of  the  foure  Elements.,  Earth, 
Water5  Aire  and  Fire  (  For  as  of  the  mixture 
of  all  thefe,  all  fiiblunarie  things  are  compo- 
fed  5  fo  by  the  more  .or  leffe  inioyment  of  the 
wholefome  temper  and  convenient  vie  of 
thejfej  confifteth  the  onely  well-being  both  of 
Man  and  Beaft  in  a  more  or  leffe  comfortable 
meafure  in  all  Countrey  s  vnder  the  Heanens) 
Therefore  I  will  endeauoUf  tofliewyouwhat 
3(cw-EngUKdis  by  the  consideration  of  .each 
of  thefe  apart^and  truly  endeauour  by  Gods 
helpe  to  report  nothing  but  the  naked  truth 
and  that  both  to  tell  you  of  the  dilcoinmodi- 
ties  as  well  as  of  the  commodities^  though  a$ 

B  the 


*. 

the  idle  Prouerbe  is,  TratteSers  may  lye  ly  au- 
tboritie,  and  fo  may  take  too  much  finfull,  li- 
bertie  that  way.  Yet  I  may  fay  of  my  felfe  as 
once  Nehemiah  did  in  another  cafe :  shall  fuch 
*Man  at  l  lye?  No  verily :  It  becommeth 
not  a  Preacher  of  Truth  to  be  a  Writer  of 
Falfhood  in  any  degree :  and  therefore  I  haue 
beene-carefull  to  report  nothing  of  Afc#- 
Evglwd  but  what  I  haue  partly  feene  with 
mine  owne  Eyes,  and  partly  heard  and  enqui- 
red from  the  Mouthes  of  verie  honeft  and 
religious  perfon,  who  by  liuing  in  the  Coun- 
trey  a  good  fpace  of  time  haue  had  experience 
and  knowledge  of  the  ftate  thereof,  &  whofe 
teftimonies  1  doe  beleeue  as  my  felfe. 

Firft  therefore  of  the  Earth  of  New-England 
and  all  the  appurtenances  thereof  :It  is  a  Land 
of  diuers  and  fundry  forts  all  about  Mafattw- 
lets  Bay,  and  at  Charles  Riuer  is  as  fat  blacke 
Earth  as  can  be  feene  any  where :  and  in  other 
places  you  haue  a  clay  foyle,  in  other  grauel], 
in  other  fandy^as  it  is  all  about  our  Plantation 
at  £4/^0,  for  fo  our  Towne  is  now  named, 
Pfal.  76.1. 

The  forme  of  the  Earth  here  in  the  fuper- 
ficies  of  it  is  neither  too  flat  in  the  plainneffe, 
nor  too  high  in  Hils,  but  partakes  of  both  in 
a  mediocritk,  and  fit  for  Pafture^or  for  Plow 
or  Meddowground5as  Menpleafe  to  employ 
it:  though  all  the  Countrey  be  as  it  were  a 
thicke  Wood  for  the  generall,  yet  in  diuers 
places  there  is  much  ground  cleared  by  the 
efpecially  about  the  Plantation: 

and 


New-ZtfgtanJs  Plavtatiw. 
and  I  am  told  that  about  three  miles  from  vs  a 
Man  may  ftand  on  a  little  hilly  place  and  fee 
diuers  thoufands  of  acres  of  ground  as  good 
as  need  to  be,and  not  a  Tree  in  the  lame.  It  is 
thought  here  is  good  Clay  to  make  Bricke 
and  Tyles  and  Earthen-Pots  as  needs  to  be* 
At  this  inftant  we  are  fetting  a  Bricke-Kill  on 
worke  to  make  Brickes  and  Tyles  for  the 
building  of  our  Houfes.  For  Stone,  here  is 
plentie  of  Slates  at  the  He  of  Slate  in  M^/S- 
t/wtets  Bay,  and  Liine-ftone,  Free-ftone,  and 
Smootlvftone,  and  Iron-done,  and  Marble- 
done  alfo  in  fuch  ftore,  that  we  haue  great 
Rockes  of  it,  and  a  Harbour  hard  by.  Our 
Plantation  is  from  thence  called  Marble-har- 
bour. 

Of  Minerals  there  hath  yet  beene  but  little 
•triall  made,yet  we  are  not  without  great  hope 
of  being  furniflied  in  that  Soyle, 

The  tertilitie  of  the  Soyle  is  to  be  admired 
at,  as  appeareth  in  the  aboundahce  of  Graffe 
that  groweth  euerie  where  both  verie  thicke, 
verie  longhand  verie  high  in  diuers  places: 
but  it  groweth  very  wildly  with  a  greatitalke 
and  a  broad  and  ranker  blade^becaufe  it  neuer 
had  been  eaten  with  Cattle,  nor  mowed  with 
aSythe>  and  feldome  trampled  on  by  foot. 
It  is  Icarce  to  be  beleeued  how  our  Kine  and 
Goats,  Horfes  and  Hogges  doe  thriue  and 
profper  here  and  like  well  of  this  Countrey. 

In  our  Plantation  we  haue  already  a  quart 
of  Milke  for  a  penny :  but  the  aboundant  en- 
creafe  of  Come  proues  this  Countrey  to  be 

B  2  a 


a  wonderment.  Thirtie/ortie^fiftie^fixtieare 
ordinarie  heie :  yea  lofephs  encreafe  in  vfgyft 
Is  out-ftript  here  with  v$.  Our  Planters  hope 
to  haue  more  then  a  luindf  ed  fould  this  yere ; 
and  all  this  while  I  am  within  compafTe^what 
will  you  fay  of  two  hundred  fould  and  vp- 
wards  ?  It  is  almoft  incredible  what  great 
gainc  fome  of  our  Englifli  Planters  haue  had 
by  our  Indian  Corne.  Credible  perfons  haue 
allured  me,  and  the  partie  himfelfe  auouched 
rhe  truth  of  it  to  me3tliat  of  the  letting  of  13 
Gallons  of  Corne  he  hath  had  encreafe  of  it 
5  2  Ho.gfheads,euerie  Hoglhead  holding  feuen 
Bufliels  of  London  meafure^and  enerieBufliell 
was  by  him  ibid  and  trufted  to  the  tndi&m  for 
fo  much  Bcaucr  as  was  worth  1 8  (hillings^  and 
fo  of  this  13  Gallons  of  Corne  which  was 
worth  6  fhillings  8  pence,  he  made  about  327 
pounds  of  it  the  y  eere  folio  wing5as  by  recko- 
ning will  appeare :  where  you  may  fee  .how 
God  bleflfeth  husbandry  in  this  Land.  There 
is  notfuch  great  and  beautifull  eares  of  Corne 
Ifuppofe  any  where  elfe  to  be  found  but  in 
this  Countrey :  being  alfo  of  varieue  of  co- 
Iours3as  red^blev/  and  yellow^&c.  and  of  one 
Corne  there  fpdngeth  ibure  or  fiue  hundred. 
I  haue  fent  you  many  Eares  of  diuers  colours 
chat  you  might  fee  the  tmth  of  it. 

Little  Children  here  by  fetting  of  Corne 
may  earne  much  more  then  their  owne  main- 
tenance. 

They  haue  tryed  our  Evg/fjk  Corne  at  new 

Plirnouth  Plantation.,  fo  that  all  otir  feueral! 

ti  Graines 


aon. 

Graines  will  grow  here  verie  well,  and  haue  a 
fitting  Soyle  for  their  nature. 

Our  Gouernour  hath  ftore  of  greene  Peafe 
growing  in  his  Garden  as  good  as  etierleac 
in  EflgUnA* 

This  Coimtrcy  abonndeth  naturally  with 
ftore  of  Roots  of  great  varietie  and  good  to 
eat*  Our  Turnips,  Parfnips  and  Carrots  arc 
here  both  bigger  and  fweeterthenis  ordina- 
rily to  be  found  in  England.  Here  arealfo  ftore 
of  PumpioiiSjCovvcumbers^and  other  things 
of  that  nature  which  1  know  not.  AIfo,diuers 
excellent  Pot-herbs  grow  abundantly  among 
the  GrafTe,  as  Strawberrie  leaues  in  all  places 
of  the  Countrey3and  plentie  of  Strawberries 
in  their  time,  and  Peny  royall,  Winterfauerie3 
Sorrell^Brookelime^Liuerwort,  Caruell  and 
Watercjrefles^alfo  Leekes  and  Onions  are  or- 
dinarie5and  diuers  Phyficall  Herbes.  Here  are 
alfo  aboundance  of  other  fweet  Herbes  de- 
lightfull  to  the  fmell,  whofc  names  we  know 
liofj&c.  and  plentie  of  fingle  Damaske  Rofes 
verie  fweet;  and  two  kinds  of  Herbes  that 
beare  two  kind  of  flowers  very  fweet,  which 
they  fay,  are  as  good  to  make  Cordage  of 
Clbath  as  any  Hempe  or  Flaxe  we  haue, 

Excellent  Vines  are  here  vp  and  downe  in 
the  Woods*  Our  Gouernour  hath  already 
planted  a  Vineyard  with  great  hope  of  en- 
creafe. 

Alfo,Mulberies,  Plums  >  Rafpberies,  Cor- 


^.^y 
Hurtleberies  &  Hawes  of  Whitethorne  neere 

B  3  as 


Ntw-Evghnd$  Plawatfan. 

as  good  as  our  Cherries  in  EngUndfosy  grow 
in  plentie  here. 

For  Wood  there  is  no  better  in  the  World 
I  thinke,  here  being  foure  forts  of  Oke  diffe- 
ring both  in  the  Leafe,  Timber,  and  Colour, 
all  excellent  good.  There  is  alfo  good  Afb, 
Elme,Willow,Biixh,Beech,Saxafras,Iuniper 
Cipres,Cedar,Spruce,Pines  &  Firre  that  will 
yeeld  abundance  of  Turpentine,Pitch,Tarre, 
Mafts  and  other  materials  for  building  both 
of  Ships  and  Houfes.  Alfo  here  are  ftorc  of 
Sumacke  Trees,  they  are  good  for  dying  and 
tanning  of  Leather,likewife  fuch  Trees  yeeld 
a  precious  Gum  called  White  Bcniamen,  that 
they  fay  is  excellent  for  perfumes.  Alfo  here 
be  diucrs.  Roots  and  Berries  wherewith  the 
Indians  dye  excellent  holy  day  colours  that  no 
raine  nor  wafliing  can  alter.  Alfo,  wee  haue 
materials  to  make  Sope-Afhes  and  Salt-Peter 
in  aboundance. 

For  Beafts  there  are  fome  Beares^  and  they 
fay  fome  Lyons  alfo  5  for  they  haue  been  feen 
at  Cape  Anne.  Alfo  here  are  feuerall  forts  of 
Deere,  fome  whereof  bring  three  or  foure 
young  ones  at  once,  which  is  not  ordinarie  in 
EngUnd.  Alfo  Wolues,  Foxes,  Beauers,Ot- 
ters,Martins3great  wild  Cats,  &  a  great  Beaft 
called  a  Molke  as  bigge  as  an  Oxe  J  haue  feen 
the  Skins  of  all  thcfe  Beafts  fince  I  came  to 
this  Plantation  excepting  Lyons*  Alfo  here 
are  great  ftore  of  Squerrels,fome  greater,and 
fome  fmaller  and  leifer :  there  are  fome  of  the 
Idfer  fort^they  tell  me?thatby  a  certaine  Skin 

will 


will  fly  from  Tree  to  Tree  though  they  (land 
farrediftant. 

Oftfa  mtm  *f  New-England  with  the  thing* 
belonging  t$  the  feme. 


Zw-E»glmd  hath  Water  enough  both 
fait  and  frefli,  the  greateft  Sea  in  the 
World,  the  Athntickt  Sea  runs  all  along  the 
Coaft  thereof.Thereare  abundance  of  Hands 
along  the  Shore,fomefull  of  Wood  and  Maft 
to  feed  Swine*  and  others  cleere  of  Wood, 
and  fruitfull  to  beare  Corne.  Alfowehaue 
ftore  of  excellent  harbours  for  Ships,  as  at 
Cape  Ame,  and  at  Mafathitlets  Bay,  and  at 
Salem,  and  at  many  other  places  rand  they  are 
the  better  becaufe  for  Strangers  there  is  a  ve- 
rie  difficuk  and  dangerous  paffage  into  them, 
but  vnto  fuch  as  are  well  acquainted  with 
them,  they  are  eafie  and  fafe  enough.  The 
aboundance  of  Sea-Fifli  are  almofl  beyond 
beleeuing,and  fure  I  fhould  fcarce  haue  belee- 
ued  it  except  I  had  feene  it  with  mine  owne 
Eyes*  I  faw  great  ftore  of  Whales,  and 
CrampuiTe,  and  fuch  aboundance  of  Make- 
rils  that  it  would  aftonifh  one  to  bchoid5like- 
wife  Cod-Fifli  aboundance  on  the  Coaft,and 
in  their  feafon  are  plentifully  taken.Thereis  a 
Fi/h  called  a  BaflTe,a  moft  fv/eet  &  wholelbrne 
Fiflias  euer  I  did  eat,  it  is  altogether  as  good 
as  our  frefh  Sammon,  and  the  feafon  of  their 
comming  was  begun  when  we  came  f?ift  to 
lane*  and  fo  continued  about 

three 


three  months  fpace.  Of  this  Fifh  our  Fifliers 
take,  many  hundreds  together,  which  I  haue 
feene  lying  on  the  fliore  to  my  admiration  5 
yea,  their  Nets  ordinarily  take  more  then 
they  are  able  to  hale  to  Land,and  for  want  of 
Boats  and  Men  they  are  conftrained  to  let  a 
many  goe  after  they  haue  taken  them,and  yet 
fometimes  they  fill  two  Boats  at  a  time  with 
them.  And  befides  Bafle  we  take  plentie  of 
Scate  and  Thornbacke,  and  aboundance  of 
Lobfters,  that  the  leaft  Boy  in  the  Plantation 
may  both  catch  and  eat  what  he  wil  of  them, 
For  my  owne  part  I  was  foone  cloyed  with 
them,they  were  fo  greaf,and  fat,  and  luffious. 
I  haue  feenc  fomemy  felfe  that  haue  weighed 
1 6  pound,  but  others  haue  had  diuers  time  fb 
great  Lobfters  as  haue  weighed  25  pound^s 
they  aflured  me.  Alfo  here  is  aboundance  of 
Herring,Turbut,Sturgion,Cuskes,Hadocks, 
Mullets,  Eeles,  Crabs^  Muskles  and  Oyfters. 
Befide  there  is  probabilitie  that  the  Countrey 
is  of  an  excellent  temper  for  the  making  of 
Salt:  for  fince  our  comming  our  Filhcrmen 
haue  brought  home  verie  good  Salt  which 
they  found  candied  by  the  {landing  of  the  Sea 
water  and  the  heat  of  the  Sunne,vpon  a  Rock 
by  the  Sea  ihore :  and  in  diuers  Salt  MariHies 
that  fome  haue  gone  through,they  haue  found 
feme  Salt  in  fome  places  crufhing  vnder  their 
Feet  and  cleauing  to  their  Shoes. 

And  as  for  frefli  Water  the  Countrey  is  full 
of  daintie  Springs,and  fome  great  Riuers,and 
fome  kfler  Brookes  s  and  atMafithfttetsftay 

they 


they  digged  Wels  and  found  Water  2t  three 
Foot  dcepe  in  moft  places  :  and  neere  Saltnt 
they  haueas  fiae  cleare  Water  as  we  can  de- 
fire,  and  we  may  digge  Wels  and  find  Water 
where  we  lift. 

Thus  we  fee  both  Land  and  Sea  abound 
with  ftore  of  bleffings  for  the  comfortable 
fuftenance  of  Mans  life  in  New-Ettgland. 

Of  the  Aire  ^New-England  with  the  T&xper 
an  A  Creatures  in  it. 


THe  Temper  of  the  Aire 
is  one  fpeciall  thing  that  commends  this 
place.  Experience  doth  manifeft  that  there  is 
hardly  amore  healthfull  place  to  be  found  in 
the  World  that  agreeth  better  with  our  En- 
glifliBodyes.  Many  that  haue  beene  weake 
and  fickly  in  old  EngUndty  comming  hither 
hane  beene  thoroughly  healed  and  growne 
healthfull  and  ftrong.  For  here  is  an  extraor- 
dinarie  cleere  and  dry  Aire  that  is  of  a  moft 
healing  nature  to  all  fuch  as  are  of  a  Cold, 
Melancholy5Flegmatick,  Reumaticke  temper 
of  Body.  None  can  more  truly  fpeake  hereof 
by  their  owne  experience  then  my  felfe.  My 
Friends  that  knew  me  can  well  teU  how  verie 
fickly  I  haue  been  and  continually  in  Phyfick, 
being  much  troubled  with  a  tormenting  paine 
through  an  extraordinarie  weakneffe  of  my 
Stomacke5and  aboundance  of  Melancholicke 
humorsjbut  fince  I  came  hither  on  this  Voy- 
age, I  thanke  God  I  haue  had  perfeft  health^ 

C  and 


and  freed  from  paitie  and  vomitings,  hauing  a 
Stomacke  to  digeft  the  hardeft  and  courfeft 
fare  who  before  could  not  cat  fineft  meat^and 
whereas  my  Stomacke  could  onely  digeft  and 
did  require  fuch  drinke  as  was  both  ftrong 
and  ftale,  now  I  can  and  doe  oftentimes  drink 
New  -England,  water  verie  well-  and  I  that  hauc 
not  gone  without  a  Cap  for  many  yeeres  to- 
gether, neither  durft  leaue  off  the  fame,  haue 
now  caft  away  my  Cap,  and  doe  weare  none 
at  all  in  the  day  time  :  and  whereas  before- 
time  I  cloathed  my  felfe  with  double  cloathcs 
and  thicke  Waftcoats  to  keepe  me  warme, 
euen  in  the  Summer  time.,  I  doe  now  goe  as 
thin  clad  as  any,  onely  wearing  a  light  Stuffe 
Catfbcke  vpon  my  Shirt  and  Stuffe  Breeches 
of  one  thicknefle  without  Linings.    Befides, 
I  hauc  one  of  my  Children  that  was  formerly 
moft  lamentably  handled  with  fore  breaking 
out  of  both  his  hands  and  feet  of  the  Kings 
Euill,  but  fince  he  came  hither  he  is  verie  well 
oner  hce  was,  and  there  is  hope  of  perfeft  re- 
couerie  fhortly,  euen  by  the  verie  wholefonv 
nefle  of  the  Aire,  altering^  digcfiing  and  dry- 
ing vp  the  cold  and  crude  humors  of  the  Bo- 
dy: and  therefore  I  thinke  it  is  a  wife  courfe 
for  all  cold  completions  to  come  to'  take 
Phyficke  in  New  Englind  ;  for  a  fup  of  8ew- 
Enlands  Aireis  better  then  a  whole  draft  of 


In  the  Summertime  in  the  midft  of/ufy 
and  Avgufl  it  is  a  good  deale  hotter  then  in  old 
:  and  in  Winter,  lamary  and  February 

are 


are  much  colder  as  they  fay:  but  the  Spring 
and  Autumne  are  of  a  middle  temper. 

Fowles  of  the  Aire  are  plentiful!  here,  and 
of  all  forts  as  we  haue  in  £#g/*  Was  far  re  as 
I  can  learne,  and  a  great  many  of  ftrange 
Fowles  which  we  know  not.  Whilft  I  was 
writing  thefethings,one  of  our  Men  brought 
home  an  Eagle  which  he  had  killed  in  the 
Wood :  they  fay  they  are  good  meat.  Alfo 
here  are  many  kinds  of  excellent  Hawkes, 
both  Sea  Hawkes  and  Land  Hawkes :  and  my 
{elfe  walking  in  the  Woods  with  another  ,in 
company,  fprung  a  Partridge  fo  bigge  that 
through  the  heauinetfe  of  his  Body  could  fly 
but  a  little  way :  they  that  haue  killed  them, 
fay  they  are  as  bigge  as  our  Hens ,  Here  are 
liicewifeaboundance  of  Turkies  often  killed 
in  the  Woods,  farre  greater  then  our  Engli/h 
Turkies,  nnd  exceeding  fat,  fweet  arid  flelhy, 
for  here  they  haue  aboundance  of  feeding  all 
the  ycere  Iong5as  Strawberries,in  Summer  all 
places  are  full  of  them,and  all  manner  of  Ber- 
ries and  Fruits'.  In  the  Winter  time  I  haue 
fcene  Flockes  of  Pidgcons,  and  haue  eaten  of 
them:  they  doe  flye  from  Tree  to  Tree  as 
other  Birds  doe, which  our  Pidgeons  will  not 
doe  in  £#g/!W:  they  are  of  all  colours  as  ours 
are,  but  their  wings  and  tayles  are  farr  longer, 
and  therefore  it  is  likely  they  fly  (witter  to 
efcape  the  terrible  Hawkes  in  this  Countrey. 
In  Winter  time  this  Countrey  doth  abound 
with  wild  Geeie,  wild  Duckes,  and  other  Sea 
Fowlc,that  a  great  part  of  winter  the  Planters 

C  a  haue 


haue  eaten  nothing  but  roailmeat  of  diners 
Fowles  which  they  haue  killed. 

Thus  you  haue  heard  of  the  Earth,  Water 
and  Aire  of  New-Efiglwd>  now  it  may  be  you 
expedlfomethingtobefaid  of  the  Fire  pro- 
portionable to  the  reft  of  the  Elements. 

Indeed  I  thinke  New  EnglAnd,  may  boaft  of 
this  Element  more  then  of  all  the  reft  :  for 
though  it  be  here  fomthing  cold  in  the  winter, 
yet  here  we  haue  plentie  of  Fire  to  warme  vs, 
and  that  a  great  deale  cheaper  then  they  fell 
.Billets  and  Faggots  in  London :  nay,  all  Europe 
is  not  able  to  afford  to  make  fo  great  Fires  as 
Ncw.England.  A  poore  Seruant  here  that  is  to 
pofleffcbut  50  Acres  of  Land,may  afford  to 
giue  more  wood  for  Timber  and  Fire  as  good 
as  the  world  yeelds,then  many  Noble  Men  in 
England,  can  afford  to  doe.Here  is  good  liuing 
for  thofe  that  IQUC  good  Fires.  And  although 
New-Englwd  haue  no  Tallow  to  make  Can- 
dles of,  yet  by  the  aboundance  of  the  Fifli 
thereof,  it  can  afford  Oyle  for  Lampes.   Yea 
our  Pine-Trees  that  are  the  moft  plentiful!  of 
all  wood,  doth  allow  vs  plentie  of  Candles, 
which  are  verie  vfefull  in  aHoufe.-andthey 
are  fuch  Candles  as  the  indiws  commonly 
vfe,hauing  no  other,and  they  are  nothing  elie 
but  the  wood  of  the  Pine  Tree  clouen  in  two 
little  flices  fomething  thin,  which  are  fo  full 
of  the  moyfture  of  Turpentine  and  Pitch, 
that  they  burnc  as  cleere  as  a  Torch*   I  haue 
fentyoufome  of  them  that  you  miy  fee  the 
experience  of  them. 

Thus 


Thus  of  Neyp-Englands  commoditie$3fiow 
I  will  tell  you  of  fome.  difcommodities  rfiat 
are  here  to  be  found. 

Firfl,  In  the  Summer  feafon  for  thefe  three 
months  June,  luly  and  Augnft^  we  are  troubled 
much  with  little  Fly es  called  Musketoes,. be- 
ing the  fame  they  are  troubled  with  in  I/*. 
colnfiicrt  and  the  Fens: and  they  are  nothing 
but  Gnats,  which  except  they  be  fmoked  out 
of  their  Howies  are  troublefome  in  the  night 
feafon. 

Secondly,  In  the  Winter  feafon  for  two 
months  fpace  the  Earth  is  commonly  couered 
with  Snow,  which  is  accompanied  with/harp 
biting  Hrofls,  fomething  more  fharpe  then  is 
in  old  £;sg/W,and  therefore  are  forced  to 
make  great  Fires. 

Thirdly,This  Countrey  being  verie  full  of 
Woods  and  Wilderneffes,  doth  alfo  much 
abound  with  Snakes  and  Serpents  of  flrange 
colours  and  huge  greatneffe  :  yea  there  are 
fome  Serpents  called  Rattle  Snakes,that  haue 
Rattles  in  their  Tayles  that  will  not  flye  from 
a  Man  as  others  will,  but  will  flye  vpon  him 
and  fling  him  fo  mortally,  that  he  -will  dye 
within  a  quarter  of  an  houre  after,  except  the 
partie  ftinged  haue  about  him  fome  of  the 
root  of  an  He  arbe  called  Snake  weed  to  bite 
on,  and  then  he  {hall  rcceiue  no  harmc:  but 
yet  feldome  falles  it  out  that  any  hurt  is  done 
by  thefe.  About  three  y  ceres  liuce  an  In  Jinn 
was  flung  to  death  by  one  of  them, but  we 
heard  of  none  fince  that  time. 

C  3  Fourthly, 


wls  PbtiMfat. 

Fourthly  and  laftly,  Here  -wants  as  yet  the 
good  company  of  honeft  Chriftians  to  bring 
with  them  Horfes,  Kine  and  Sheepe  to  make 
vfe  of  this  fruitfull  Land  .-great  pittieitisto 
fee  To  much  good  ground  for  Come  and  for 
Grafle  as  any  is  vnder  the  Heauehs,  to  lye  al  - 
together  vnoccupied,  when  fo  many  honeft 
Men  &  their  Families  in  old  England  through 
the  populoufncfTe  thereof3do  make  very  hard 
ihift  to  Hue  one  by  the  Other. 

Now>  thus  you  know  what  New-EnghnA 
is,  as  alfo  with  the  commodities  and  difcom- 
modities  thereof:  now  I  will  fliew  you  a  little 
of  the  Inhabitants  thereof  and  their  gouern- 
ment. 

For  their  Gouernours  they  haue  Kings, 
which  they  call  Sa,ggamore$%  (ome  greater,and 
fome  lefler  j  according  to  the  number  of  their 


The  greateft  SaggAmorcs  about  vs  can  not 
make  aboue  three  hundred  Men,  and  other 
lefle  Saggamorcs  haue  not  aboue  fifceene  Sub- 
iects5  and  others  neere  about  vs  but  two. 

Their  Subiecls  about  twelue  yeeres  fince 
were  fwept  away  by  a  great  and  grieuous 
Plague  that  was  amongft  thcm^fo  that  there 
are  verie  few  left  to  inhabite  the  Countrey. 

The  indies  are  not  able  to  make  vfe  of  the 
one  fourth  part  of  the  Land^ncither  haue  they 
any  fetled  places^  as  Townes  to.  dwell  in,  nor 
any  ground  as  they  challenge  for  their  owne 
poffeiHon,  but  change  their  habitation  from 
place  to  place. 

For 


Ntw-Engt Ancts  Plantation. 

For  their  Statures,theyareatall  and  ftroflg 
limmed  People,their  colours  are  tawny,they 
goe  naked,  faue  onely  they  are  in  part  coue- 
red  with  Beafts  Skins  on  one  of  their  Shoul- 
ders, and  weare  fomething  before  their  Pri- 
uitics:  their  Haire  is  generally  bkcke,and  cut 
before  like  our  Gentlewomen, 'and  one  locke 
longer  then  the  reft,  much  like  to  our  Gentle- 
men,which  fafliion  I  thinke  came  from  hence 
into  England. 

For  their  weapons,  they  haue  Bowes  and 
Arrowes3  fome  of  them  headed  with  Bone, 
and  forae  with  Braffe :  I  haue  fent  you  fome 
of  them  for  an  example, 

The  Men  for  the  moft  part  Hue  idlely,they 
doe  nothing  but  hunt  and  fifh:  their  wiues  fet 
their  Corne  and  doe  all  their  other  worke. 
They  haue  little  Hbufliold  ftuffc,  as  a  Kettle, 
and  feme  other  Veflels  like  Trayes,  Spoone^ 
Diflies  and  Baskets. 

Their  Houf es  are  verie  little  and  homely, 
being  made  with  fmall  Poles  pricked  into 
the  ground,  and  fo  bended  and  farfncd  at  the 
tops,  and  on  the  /ides  they  are  matted  with 
Boughes,&  couered  on  the  Roofe  with  Sedge 
and  old  Mats^and  for  their  beds  that  they  take 
their  reft  on,  they  haue  a  Mat. 

They  doe  generally  profeffe  to  like  well  of 
our  cormxung  and  planting  here^  partly  be- 
caufe  there  is  abundance  of  ground  that  they 
cannot  poffefle  nor  make  vfe  of,  and  partly 
becaufe  our  being  here  will  be  a  meanes  both 
of  reliefe  to  them  when  they  want,  and  alfo  a 

defence 


defence  from  their  Enemies,  wherewith  (I 
fey  )  before  this  Plantation  begun,  they  were 
often  indangered. 

For  their  Religion,  they  doe  worfliip  two 
Gods,  a  good  God  and  an  euill  God  :  the 
good  God  they  call  Taxtum*  and  their  euill 
God  whom  they  feare  will  doe  them  hurt, 
they  call  Squtntum. 

For  their  dealing  with  vs,  we  neither  feare 
them  nor  truft  them,  for  fourtie  of  our  Muf- 
keteeres  will  driuc  fiue  hundred  of  them  out 
of  the  Field.  We  vfe  them  kindly,  they  will, 
come  into  our  Houfes  Ibmetimes  by  halfe  a 
douzen  or  halfe  a  fcore  at  a  time  when  we  are 
at  vi&uals,  but  will  aske  or  take  nothing  but 
what  we  giue  them. 

We  purpofe  to  learne  their  Language  as 
foone  as  we  can,which  will  be  a  tneanes  to  do 
them  good. 

Of  the  prtfettt  cwditiitt  of  the  Plant  at  iw, 


WHen  we  came  firft  toNeibum  ktk>  we 
found  about  halfe  a  fcore  Houfes,and 
a  faire  Houfe  newly  built  for  the  Gouernpur, 
we  found  alfo  aboundance  of  Corne  planted 
by  them,verie  good  and  well  likeing.  And  we 
brought  with  vs  about  two  hundred  Paflen- 
gers  and  Planters  more,  which  by  common 
confenr  of  the  old  Planters  were  all  combi- 
ned together  into  one  Body  Politicke,  vnder 
the  fame  Gouernour. 

There 


Stew-EngUnds  Pk&Mfa*. 
There  are  in  all  of  vs  both  old  and  new 
Planters  about  three  hundred,  whereof  two 


<called  «fii&»:  and  the  reft  haue  Planted thera- 
felues  at  lAtf&tbuUts  Bay,  beginning  to  build 
a  Towne  there  which  we  doe  call  chert 9^  or 
ChAfla  Towne. 

We  that  are  fe tied  at  Salem  make  what  had 
we  can  to  build  Houfes,  fo  that  within  a  fliort 
time  we  fhall  haue  a  faire  Towne. 

We  haue  great  Ordnance,  wherewith  we 
doubt  not  but  we  fhall  fortifie  our  felues  in 
a  fhort  time  to  keepe  out  a  potent  Aduerfarie. 
But  that  which  is  our  greateft  comfort,  and 
meanes  of  defence  aboue  all  other,is,that  we 
haue  here  the  true  Religion  and  holy  Ordi* 
nances  of  Almightie  God  taught  amongft  vs: 
Thankes  be  to  God,we  haue  here  plentie  of 
Preaching,  and  diligent  Catechizing,  with 
ftrickt  and  carefull  exercife,  and  good  and 
commendable  orders  to  bring  our  People  in- 
to a  Chriftian  conuerfation  with  whom  we 
hauetodoewithali.  And  thus  we  doubt 
not  but  God  will  be  with  vs,and 
if  Qod.be  with  vs,  who  CM 


FINIS. 


GENERAL  CONSIDERATIONS 


Generall  Consideracons 
for  ye  plantacon  in  New 
England^  wth  an  aunswere 
to  seuerall  objections  ' 

I RST  it  will  be  a  service 
to  ye  Church  of  great 
consequence,  to  carry 
ye  gospell  into    those 
parts  of  ye  world,  &  to 
raise  a  bulwarke  agt  ye 
kingdos  of  Antichrist 
Wch  ye  Jesuits  labour  to  reare  vp  in  all 
places  of  ye  world. 

Secondly  all  other  churches  of  Europe 
are  brought  to  desolacon,  &  it  may  be 
justly  feared  y*  ye  like  judgmt  is  coming 
vpon  vs  :  &  who  knowes  but  yt  God  hath 
provided  this  place  to  be  a  refuge  for 
many  whom  hee  meanes  to  saue  out  of 
ye  generall  destruction. 

Thirdly  the  land  growes  weary  of  her 
inhabitants,  so  that  man  wch  is  ye  most 
precious  of  all  creatures  is  here  more  vyle 

4i  j  & 


General  Considerations 9  &c. 

&  base  then  ye  earth  they  tread  upon ;  so 
as  children  neighbours  &  friends  especially 
of  ye  poore,  are  counted  ye  greatest  bur- 
dens, wch  if  things  were  right  would  be  ye 
highest  earthly  blessings. 

Wee  are  gro wen  to  y*  excesse  &  intem- 
peraunce  in  all  excesse  of  riot  as  no  meane 
estate  almost  will  suffice  to  keepe  saile  wth 
his  equalls  &  hee  y*  fayles  in  it  must  [live] 
in  scorne  &  contempt.  Hence  it  comes 
to  passe  y*  all  arts  &  trades  are  carried  in 
yt  deceitfull  maner  &  vnrighteous  course, 
as  it  is  almost  impossible  for  a  good  up- 
right man  to  maintayne  his  chardge  & 
Hue  cofortably  in  any  of  ym. 

Fiftly  ye  Schooles  of  learning  &  relig- 
ion are  so  corrupted,  as  (besides  ye  unsup- 
portable  chardge  of  this  educacon)  most 
children,  (euen  ye  best  wittiest  &  of  fayr- 
est  hopes)  are  perverted,  corrupted  &  ut- 
terly ouerpowered  by  ye  multitude  of 
evill  examples  &  licentious  governors  of 
those  seminaries. 

Sixtly  ye  whole  earth  is  ye  Lords  gar- 
den &  hee  hath  giuen  it  to  ye  sons  of 
Adam  to  bee  tilled  &  improoued  by  ym 
why  then  should  we  stand  starving  here 
for  places  of  habitacon  (many  men  spend- 
ing as  much  labour  &  cost  to  recouer  or 
keepe  soetymes  an  acre  or  two  of  lands, 
as  would  procure  him  many  hundreths  of 
[  42  ]  acres, 


General  Considerations  &c. 

acres,  as  good  or  better  in  another  place) 
&  in  ye  meane  tyme  suffer  whole  coun- 
treyes  as  profitable  for  ye  use  of  man,  to 
lye  wast  wthout  any  improouement. 

Seaventhly,  what  can  bee  a  better 
worke  and  more  noble  &  worthy  a  Chris- 
tian, then  to  helpe  to  raise  &  support  a 
particular  church  while  it  is  in  it  infancy, 
&  to  [join]  or  forces  w*h  such  a  copany  of 
faithfull  people,  as  by  a  tymely  assistaunce 
may  grow  stronger  &  prosper,  &  for  want 
of  it  may  be  put  to  great  hazzard  if  not 
wholly  ruinated  ? 

Eightly  if  any  such  as  are  knowne  to 
bee  godly  &  Hue  in  wealth  &  prosperity 
here,  shall  forsake  all  this  to  joyne 
ymselves  w'h  this  church,  &  runne  in 
hazard  wth  ym  of  hard  &  meane  condi- 
con,  it  will  be  an  example  of  great  vse 
both  for  ye  remooving  of  Scandall  &  sin- 
ister &  worldly  respects,  to  giue  more  lyfe 
to  ye  faith  of  Gods  people  in  their  prayers 
for  ye  plantacon,  &  also  to  encourage 
others  to  joyne  ye  more  willingly  in  it. 

Objections: 

OBj.  i.  It  will  bee  a  great  wrong  to 
or  owne  church  &  countrey  to  take 
away  the  best  people;  &  we  still  lay  it 
more  open  to  ye  judges  feared. 

[  43  ]  Aunsw.  i. 


General  Considerations  &c. 

Aunsw.  i.  The  number  will  be  no- 
thing in  respect  of  those  yt  are  left.  2ly 
many  yt  Hue  to  no  vse  here,  more  then 
for  their  owne  priuate  familyes  may  bee 
employed  to  a  more  como  good  in  another 
place.  3^  fuch  as  are  of  good  vse  here 
may  yett  be  so  employed  as  ye  church 
shall  receiue  no  loile.  and  since  Christs 
coming  ye  church  is  to  be  conceiued  as 
universall  wthout  distinctio  of  countryes, 
so  as  hee  yt  doth  good  in  any  one  place 
serves  ye  church  in  all  places,  in  regard  of 
ye  vnitye.  4thly  it  is  ye  revealed  will  of  God 
yt  ye  gospell  should  be  preached  to  all 
nations,  and  though  we  know  not  whether 
ye  Indians  will  receiue  it  or  not,  yet  it  is  a 
good  worke  to  observe  Gods  will  in  offer- 
ing it  to  ym,  for  God  shall  haue  glory  by 
it  though  yy  refuse  it. 

Object.  2.  wee  haue  feared  a  judgemt 
along  tyme,but  yet  we  are  safe;  therefore 
it  were  better  to  stay  till  it  come,  &  either 
we  may  flie  then,  or  if  we  be  ouertaken 
in  it  wee  may  well  bee  content  to  suffer 
wth  such  a  church  as  ours  is. 

Aunsw.  It  is  likely  yt  this  confideracon 
made  ye  churches  beyond  yeseas  as  ye  Pal- 
atinate &  Rochel  &c  to  sit  still  at  home, 
&  not  looke  out  for  shelter  while  yy  might 
haue  found  it.  but  ye  wofull  spectacle  of 
their  ruine  may  teach  us  more  wisdome 

44  to 


General  Considerations  &c. 

to  avoid  ye  plague  while  it  is  foreseene,  & 
not  to  tarry  as  yy  did  till  it  ouertooke  ym. 
If  they  were  now  at  their  former  liberty, 
wee  may  be  sure  yy  would  take  other 
courses  for  their  safety.  And  though  most 
of  ym  had  miscarried  in  their  escape,  yet 
it  had  not  bene  halfe  so  miserable  to 
thmselves,  or  scandalous  to  religion,  as  this 
desperate  backsliding  and  abjuring  ye 
truth,  wch  many  of  ye  auntient  profes- 
sours  among  ym,  &  ye  whole  posterity  that 
remayne  are  plunged  into. 

Object.  3.  wee  haue  here  a  fruitfull 
Land  w^  peace  &  plenty  of  all  things. 

Aunsw  :  wee  are  like  to  haue  as  good 
condicons  there  in  tyme;  but  yet  we 
must  leaue  all  this  abundance,  if  it  beenot 
taken  fro  vs.  When  we  are  in  or  graues, 
it  will  bee  all  one  whether  we  haue  liued 
in  plenty  or  in  penury,  whether  we  haue 
dyed  in  a  bed  of  downe  or  lockes  of  straw. 
Onely  this  is  ye  advantage  of  ye  meane 
condicon,  y*  it  is  a  more  freedoe  to  dye. 
And  ye  lesse  cofort  any  haue  in  ye  things 
of  this  world,  ye  more  liberty  yy  haue  to 
lay  vp  treasure  in  heauen. 

Obj.  4.  wee  may  perish  by  ye  way  or 
when  we  coe  there,  having  hunger  or  ye 
sword  &c  and  how  vncofortable  will  it 
bee  to  see  or  wives  &  children  &  friends 
come  to  such  miserie  by  or  occasion  ? 

[  45  ]  Aunsw. 


General  Considerations  &c. 

Aunsw.  Such  objections  savour  too 
much  of  ye  flesh.  Who  can  secure  him- 
selfe  or  his  fro  ye  like  calamities  here?  If 
this  course  bee  warrantable,  we  may  trust 
Gods  providence  for  these  things.  Either 
hee  will  keepe  those  evills  fro  vs,  or  will 
dispose  ym  for  or  good  &  enable  vs  to 
beare  y™. 

Obj.  5.  But  what  warrant  haue  we  to 
take  yt  land,  wch  is  &  hath  bene  of  long 
tyme  possessed  of  others  ye  sons  of  Adam  ? 

Aunsw.  That  wch  is  como  to  all  is  proper 
to  none.  This  Savage  people  ruleth  ouer 
many  lands  wthout  title  or  property :  for  yy 
inclofe  no  ground,  neither  haue  yy  cattell 
to  maintayne  it,  but  remooue  their  dwell- 
ings as  yy  haue  occafion,  or  asyy  canpre- 
vaile  agt  their  neighbours.  And  why  may 
not  Chriftians  haue  liberty  to  go  &  dwell 
amongst  ym  in  their  wast  lands  &  woodds 
(leaving  ym  such  places  as  yy  haue  man- 
ured for  their  corne)  as  lawfully,  as  Abra- 
ham did  amongst  ye  Sodomites?  For 
God  hath  giuen  to  ye  sons  of  men  a  2 
fould  right  to  ye  earth:  there  is  anaturall 
right  &  a  civill  right.  The  first  right  was 
naturallwhen  men  held  ye  earth  incofno, 
every  man  sowing  &  seeding  where  hee 
pleased:  then,  as  men  and  cattell  in- 
creased, yy  appropriated  someparcells  of 
ground  by  enclosing  &  peculiar  manur- 
[  46  ]  ance, 


General  Considerations  &c. 

ance,  &  this  in  tyme  got  y™  a  civill 
right.  Such  was  ye  right  wch  Ephron  ye 
Hittite  had  in  ye  field  of  Machpelah, 
wherein  Abraham  could  not  bury  a  dead 
corps  wthout  leaue,  though  for  ye  outparts 
of  ye  countrey  wch  lay  cofnon,  hee  dwelt 
vpo  ym  &  tooke  ye  fruit  of  y™  at  his  pleas- 
ure. This  appeares  also  in  Jacob  &  his 
sons  who  fedd  their  flocks  as  bouldly  in  ye 
Canaanites  Land  for  hee  is  said  to  bee  Lord 
of  ye  countrey ;  &  at  Dotham  and  all  other 
places  men  accounted  nothing  their  owne, 
but  y*  wch  yy  had  appropriated  by  their 
owne  industry,  as  appeares  plainly  by 
Abimelechs  servaunts,  who  in  their  owne 
countrey  did  often  contend  w*h  Isaacks 
servaunts  about  wells  w<*  yy  had  digged ; 
but  neuer  about  ye  lands  w^  yy  occupied. 
Solikewife  betweene  Jacob  &Laban:  hee 
would  not  take  a  kidd  of  Labans  wthout 
speciall  contract;  but  hee  makes  no  bar- 
gaine  wth  him  for  ye  land  where  yy  fedd. 
And  it  is  probable  yt  if  ye  countrey  had  not 
bene  as  free  for  Jacob  as  for  Laban,  yt  cov- 
etous wretch  would  haue  made  his  advant- 
age of  him,  &  haue  vpbraided  Jacob  w*h 
it  as  hee  didwth  ye  rest.  2%  there  is  more 
then  enough  for  ym  &  vs.  3*%  God  hath 
confumed  ye  natives  wth  a  miraculous 
plague,  whereby  ye  greater  part  of  ye 
countrey  is  left  void  of  inhabitants.  4^7,  we 
[  47  ]  shall 


General  Considerations  &c. 

shall  cob  in  w*h  good  leaue  of  ye  natiues. 

Obj.  6.  we  shall  send  or  young  ones  & 
such  as  may  best  bee  spared,  &  not  of  ye 
best  of  or  ministers  &  magistrates. 

Aunsw.  It  is  a  great  worke  &  requires 
more  skilfull  Artisans  to  lay  ye  foundacon 
of  a  new  building,  then  to  uphoald  & 
repayre  one  yt  is  already  built.  If  great 
things  bee  attempted  by  weake  instrum*s, 
ye  effects  will  bee  aunswerable. 

Obj.  7.  Wee  see  yt  those  plantacons  yt 
haue  bene  formerly  made,  succeeded  ill. 

Aunsw.  i  The  fruit  of  any  publique 
designe  is  not  to  bee  discerned  by  ye  ifne- 
diat  successe :  it  may  appeare  in  tyme,  yt 
yy  were  all  to  good  vse.  2<Hy,  there  were 
great  fundamentall  errours  in  others  wch 
are  like  to  bee  avoided  in  this :  for  i  their 
mayne  end  &  purpose  was  carnall  &  not 
religious.  2  yy  aymed  chiefely  at  profitt 
&  not  at  ye  propagacon  of  religion.  3  yy 
vsed  too  vnfitt  instrumts,  a  multitude  of 
rude  vngoverned  persons,  ye  very  scums 
of  ye  Land.  4  yy  did  not  stablish  a  right 
fourme  of  gouernmt. 


THE  AGREEMENT  WITH 
MR.  HIGGINSON 


THE  AGREEMT 

w™ 
MR.  HIGGINSON 

A  true  note  of  ye  allowance  yt  ye  new 
England  Copany  haue  by  como  consent 
&  order  of  their  Court  &  Counsell 
grauntedvnto  Mr.  Francis  Higginson 
minister,  for  his  maintenaunce  in  new 
England  April  8,  1629. 

MPRIMIS  yt  3oH  in 
money  shall  be  forth- 
wth  paid  him  by  ye 
Copanyes  treasurer  to- 
wards ye  chardges  of 
fitting  himselfe  wth 
Apparell  &  other  nec- 
essaryes  for  his  voyage. 

2  Item  yt   ioli  more  shall  be  payed 
ouer  by  ye  said  treasurer  to  wards  ye  pro- 
vyding  of  bookes  for  present  vse. 

3  Item  yt  hee  shall  haue  30^  yearly 
paid  him  for  3  yeares  to  beginne  fro  ye 
ty  me  of  his  first  arrivall  in  new  England 

[51  ]  & 


The  Agreement  with  Mr.  Higginson 

&  so  to  be  accounted  &  paid  paid  him  at  ye 
End  of  eury  yeare. 

4  Item  yt  during  ye  said  tyme  ye 
Company  shall  provide  for  him  &  his 
family  necessaryes  of  diett  housing  & 
firewood;  and  shall  be  at  chardges  of  trans- 
porting him  into  new  England:  and  at 
ye  end  of  ye  said  3  yeares,  if  hee  shall  not 
like  to  continue  there  any  longer,  to  be  at 
ye  chardge  of  transporting  him  backe  for 
England. 

5.  Item   yt    in  convenient  tyme  an 
house  shall   be  built,  &  certayne  lands 
allotted  thereunto;  wch  during  his  stay  in 
ye  countrey  &  continuance  in  ye  minis- 
trey  shall  bee  for  his  vse;  &  after  his  death 
or  remoovall  ye  same  to  be  for  Succeeding 
ministers. 

6.  Item  at  ye  expiracon  of  ye  said   3 
yeares  an  i  oo  acres  of  land  shall  be  assign- 
ed to  him  &  his  heires  for  euer. 

7.  Item  yt  in  case  hee  shall  depart 
this  lyfe  in  yt  countrey,  ye  said  Company 
shall  take  care  for  his  widdow  during  her 
widdowhood  &  aboade  in  yt  country  and 
plantacon:  &  ye  like  for  his  children 
whilst  yy  remayne  vpon   ye  said   plan- 
tacon. 

8.  Item  yt  ye  milke  of  2  kyne  shall 
bee  appointed  towards  ye  chardges  of 
diett  for  him  &  his  family e  as  aforesaid,  & 

[  52  ]  halfe 


The  Agreement  with  Mr.  Higginson 

halfe  ye  increase  of  calves  during  ye  said  3 
yeares :  but  ye  said  2  kyne,  and  ye  other 
halfe  of  ye  increase  to  returne  to  ye  Com- 
pany at  ye  end  of  ye  said  3  yeares. 

9.  Item  y*  he  shall  haue  liberty  of  car- 
rying ouer  bedding,  linnen,  brasse,  iron, 
pewter,  of  his  owne  for  his  necessary  vse 
during  ye  said  tyme. 

10  Item  yt  if  he  continue  7  yeares  upon 
ye  said  plantacon,  yt  then  100  acres  of 
land  more  shall  be  allotted  him  for  him 
and  his  for  ever. 

Messrs.  Higginsori  s  and  Skeltorf  s  Contract* 

T He  8th  of  Aprill,  1629.  Mr  Francis 
Higgeson  and  Mr  Samuel  Skelton 
intended  ministers  of  this  plantacon,  and  it 
being  thought  meete  to  consider  of  their 
intertaynement,  who  expressing  their 
willingnesse,  together,  also  with  Mr  Fran- 
cis Bright,  being  now  present  to  doe  their 
endevourin  their  places  of  the  ministery 
as  well  in  preaching,  catechizing,  as  also 
in  teaching,  or  causing  to  be  taught,  the 
Companyes  servants  &  their  children,  as 
also  the  salvages  and  their  children,  where- 
by to  their  uttermost  to  further  the  maine 
end  of  this  plantation,  being,  by  the  as- 
sistance of  Allmighty  God,  the  conversion 

*  Records  of  the  Governor  and  Company  of  the 
Massachusetts  Bay  in  New  England. — Boston,  1853. 

[  53  ]  of 


The  Agreement  with  Mr.  Higginson 

of  the  salvages,  the  proposicons  concluded 
on  wth  Mr  Francis  Bright,  the  2  of  Feb- 
ruary last,  were  reciprocally  accepted  of 
by  Mr  Francis  Higgison  and  Mr  Samuel 
Skelton,  who  are  in  every  respect  to  have 
the  like  condicons  as  Mr  Bright  hath,  one- 
ly  whereas  Mr  Higgeson  hath  8  children 
it  is  intended  that  I  oK  more  yearely  shall 
be  allowed  him  towards  their  chardge. 
And  it  is  agreed  that  the  increase  of  the 
improvement  of  all  their  grounds  during 
the  first  3  yeares  shall  be  at  the  Companies 
disposing,  who  are  to  fynde  them  dyett 
during  that  time,  and  tenne  pounds  more 
to  Mr  Higgeson  towards  his  present  fit- 
ting him  and  his  for  the  voyage. 

FRANCIS  HIGGISON. 
SAMUEL  SKELTON. 


A  TRUE  RELATION  OF  THE 

LAST  VOYAGE  TO 

NEW  ENGLAND 


A  TRVE  RELACON 

of  ye  last  voyage  to  new 
England, declaring  all  cir- 
custances  wth  yemaner  of 
ye  passage  wee  had  by  sea, 
and  what  maner  of  coun- 
trey  &  inhabitants  we 
found  when  we  came  to 
land :  &  what  is  ye  pres- 
ent state  &  condicon  of 
ye  English  people  yt  are 
there  already. 


Faithfully  recorded  according  to  ye  very  truth 
fory*  satisfaction  of  very  many  of  my  lov- 
ing friends,  who  haue  earnestly  requested 
to  be  truly  certified  in  these  t hinges. 

Written  from  new  England  July  24, 1629. 


//.  any  Curious  Criticke  yl  lookes  for  exactnes  of 
phrases  or  expert  seaman  yt  regard  propriety  of 
sea-termes  &c 

[57] 


. 


A  TRVE  RELACON 

of  ye  last  voyage  to  new 
England  made  ye  last 
Sufner,  begun  ye  25th  of 
April  being  Saturday, 
Anno  doi  1629. 

HE  copany  of  New 
England  consisting  of 
many  worthy  gentle- 
men in  yecitty  of  Lon- 
don, Dorcester  &  other 
places,  ayming  at  ye 
glory  of  God,  ye  pro- 
pagacon  of  ye  gospell  of  Christ,  ye  con- 
versio  of  ye  Indians,  &  ye  enlarge™*  of  ye 
Kings  ma*''68  dominions  in  America,  &  be- 
ing authorised  by  hisroyall  letters  patents 
for  yt  end,  at  their  very  great  costs  & 
chardgs  furnished  5  Ships  to  go  to  new 
England,  for  ye  further  setling  of  ye  Eng- 
lish plantacon  yt  yy  had  already  begun 
there. 

[  59  ]  The 


A  True  Relation  of  the 

The  names  of  ye  5  Shipps  were  as  fol- 
loweth.  The  first  is  called  ye  Talbot, 
a  good  &  strong  shipp  of  300  tunnes,  & 
19  pieces  of  ordinance  &  served  wth  30 
mariners.  This  ship  carried  about  an  i  oo 
planters,  6  goates,  5  great  pieces  of  ordi- 
naunce,  wth  meale,  oatemeale  pease,  &  all 
maner  of  munitioandprovisio  foryeplan- 
tacon  for  a  twelve  month.  The  second  ye 
George,  another  strong  ship  also,  about 
300  tunnes,  2 o  pieces  of  ordinance,  served 
wth  about  3  o  mariners ;  her  chiefe  carriage 
were  cattell,  1 2  mares,  30  kyne,  &  some 
goates:  also  ther  gad  in  her  5  2  planters  & 
other  provision.  The  3  d  is  called  ye  Lyons 
whelpe,  a  neate  &  nimble  ship  of  1 20 
tunnes,  8  pieces  of  ordinaunce,  carrying  in 
her  many  mariners  &  about  40  planters, 
specially  fro  dorcester  &  other  places 
thereabouts,  wth  provision,  and  4  goates. 

The  4th  is  called  ye  4  sisters,  as  I  heare 
of  about  300  tuns,  wch  fayre  ship  carried 
many  cattell  wth  passengers  &  provision. 

The  5fh  is  called  ye  Mayflower,  carry- 
ing passengers  &  provision. 

Now  amongst  these  5  ships,  ye  George 
hauing  the  speciall  &  urgent  cause  of  has- 
tening her  passage  sett  sayle  before  ye  rest 
about  ye  midst  of  April.  And  ye  4  Sisters 
&  ye  Mayflower  being  not  throughly  fur- 
nished, intended  as  we  heard  to  sett  forth 
[  60  ]  about 


Last  Voyage  to  New  England 

about  3  weeks  after  vs :  But  we  yt  were  in 
ye  Talbot  &  ye  Lions  whelpe  being  ready 
for  or  voyage  by  ye  good  hand  of  Gods 
providence hoysed  or  sayle  froGrauesend 
-i  on  Saturday  ye  2  5th  of  April 
5  J  about  7  a  clocke  in  ye  morn- 
ing. Having  but  a  faynt  wynd  we  could 
notgofarre  yt  day,  but  at  night  wee  ancred 
against  Lie  wch  is  12  milesfrograuesend, 

[x  -i  &  there  we  rested  yt  night  &  kept 
J  Sabbath  ye  next  day. 
-i  On  monday  we  sat  forward  &  came 

'  J  to  ye  flats,  a  passage  soewhat  diffi- 
cult by  reason  of  ye  narrownes  of  ye  chan- 
nell  &  shallownes  of  ye  water :  &  going 
ouer  this  wee  were  in  soe  daunger :  for  or 
ship  being  heavy  laden  &  drawing  deepe 
water  was  sensibly  felt  of  vs  all  to  strike  3 
or  4  tymes  on  ye  ground:  but  ye  wynd 
blowing  soewhat  strong  we  were  carried 
Swiftly  on,  &  at  last  by  Gods  blessing  came 
safe  to  ancre  at  Gorin  roade. 

g-j  Tewsday  we  went  a  little  further, 
J  &  ancred  ouer  agt  MargretTowne, 
staying  for  a  wind  for  ye  downes. 
r  -i  Wednesday  we  came  safely  though 
L  '  J  \yth  much  turning  &  tacking  thor- 
ow  ye  gullies  into  ye  downes,  &  stayed 
yt  night. 

'  *J  Saturday  ye  wind  blew 

[  61   ]  hard 


[ 


A  "True  Relation  of  the 

hard  fro  south  west  &  caused  or  ship  to 
daunce,  &  diuers  of  or  passengers  &  my 
wiffe  specially  were  sea  sicke.  Here  ye 
Kings  ship  called  ye  Assurance  pressed 
2  of  or  mariners.  Here  we  saw  many 
Porpuses  playing  in  ye  sea  wch  yy  say  is  a 
signe  of  fowle  weather. 
TlVfav  ?!  Sabbath  day  a  windy e  day  & 
L  y  *  J  could  :  we  kept  Sabbath  stay- 
ing still  at  ye  downes. 
r  -I  Monday  God  sent  vs  a  fayre  gale  of 
L*"  J  wind  north  :  n :  East,  whereby  we 
came  merily  fro  ye  downes:  &  passing 
Dover  we  saw  6  or  7  saile  of  dunkirkes, 
wafting  after  vs :  but  it  seemed  yy  saw  or 
copany  was  too  strong  for  y™,  for  then 
wee  had  w*h  vs  3  or  4  ships  yt  went  for  ye 
Straits:  so  yy  returned  backe  fro  pursu- 
ing vs  any  longer.  But  sayling  wth  a  good 
wind  wee  went  speedily,  &  at  night  came 
neere  ye  He  of  Wight  but  being  darke 
wee  durst  not  put  into  ye  channell,  but 
put  backe  for  sea  roome  4  houres,  &  then 
other  4  houres  sayled  backe  agayne  ye 
same  way. 

r  -i  Tewsday  early  in  ye  morning  we  en- 
L^  J  tredye  channell  ye  wind  being  weake 
&  calme,  &  passed  by  Portsmouth  very 
slowly;  but  in  ye  afternoone  ye  wind 
quickened,  &  wee  were  forced  to  ancre  a 
little  on  this  side  Cowcastle  but  ye  wind 
[  62  ]  growing 


Last  Voyage  to  New  England 

growing  more  favourable  wee  weighed 
&  came  to  ancre  again  right  against  Cow- 
castle  thinking  to  stay  yt  night,  ye  wind 
being  very  calme.  Here  I  &  my  wiffe  & 
TlVf  a  1  mv  daughter  Mary  &  2  maids  & 
L  '  J  soe  others  wth  vs  obtained  of  ye 
mr  of  ye  shipp  to  go  a  shoare  to  refresh 
vs  &  to  wash  or  linnens,  &  so  we  lay  at 
Cowes  yt  night.  But  ye  wind  turning 
when  wee  were  absent,  yy  hoysed  sayle  & 
left  vs  there,  &  ancred  8  miles  further 
ouer  agt  Yarmouth  about  8  of  ye  clocke 
at  night. 

[s~\  Wednesday  betyme  in  ye  morning 
J  ye  shalope  was  sent  fr5  ye  shipp  to 
fetch  vs  to  Yarmouth;  but  ye  water 
prooued  rough  &  or  weomen  desired  to 
bee  sett  on  shoare  3  miles  short  of  Yar- 
mouth, &  so  went  on  foote  by  land  & 
lodged  in  Yarmouth  yt  night. 
r  o  -i  On  Thursday  &  fryday  there  Mr 
LA"  *J  Beecher  allowed  by  ye  copany 
gaue  mee  40*  to  make  or  provisio  of  what 
things  we  would  for  the  voyage. 

W  Saturday  we  went  to  board  agayne: 
&  this  day  wee  had  2  other  men 
pressed  to  serve  ye  Kings  Shippe;  but  we 
got  one  agayne  by  intreaty. 

[-|  The  Sabbath  next  day  we  kept  ye 
J  shipp  where  I  preached  in  ye  morn- 
ing ;  &  in  ye  afternoon  was  intreated  to 
[  63  ]  preach 


A  True  Relation  of  the 

preach  at  Yarmouth,  where  Mr  Meare  & 
cap  tayneB  or  ley  enter  tainedvs  very  kynd- 
ly,  &  earnestly  desyred  to  bee  certified  of 
or  safe  arrivall  in  new  England,  &  of  ye 
state  of  ye  countrey 

r  -i  Monday  morning  blew  a  fayre 
L  J  wind  fro  East  S :  E :  And  ye  lions 
whelpe  having  taken  in  all  her  provisio 
for  passengers,  about  3  of  ye  clocke  in  ye 
afternoone  wee  hoysed  sayle  for  ye  Nee- 
dles, &  by  Gods  guidance  safely  passed  y* 
narrow  passage  a  little  after  4  a  clocke  in 
ye  afternoone.  And  being  entred  into  ye 
sea,  fro  ye  top  of  ye  mast  we  discerned  4 
sayle  of  shipps  lying  southward  fro  vs. 
But  night  coming  on  wee  tooke  in  or  long 
r  "i  boate  &  shalope.  Andy6  next  day 
L  J  we  had  a  fayre  gale  of  Easterly 
wind  y*  brought  vs  towards  night  as  farre 
as  ye  Lizzard. 

r  -i  Wednesday  ye  wind  still  houlding 
L  ^J  Easterly,  wee  came  as  farre  as  ye 
lands  end,  in  ye  vtmost  part  of  Corne- 
wall,  &  so  left  or  deare  natiue  soile  of 
England  behind  vs  ;  &  sayling  about  i  o 
leagues  further  we  passed  ye  Isles  of  Sillie 
&  launched  ye  same  day  a  great  way  into 
ye  maine  ocean.  And  now  my  wiffe  & 
other  passengers  began  to  feeleye  tossing 
waues  of  ye  westerne  sea,  &  so  were  very 
sea-sicke. 

[  64  ]  And 


[ 


Last  Voyage  to  New  England 

And  this  is  to  be  noted,  y*  all  this  while 
or  passage  hath  bene  vpo  ye  coast  of  Eng- 
land, &  so  ought  truly  to  be  accounted 
ye  first  day  of  or  parting  w*h  ould  Eng- 
land. 

-i  Thursday  ye  same  Easterly  wind 
J  blew  all  day  &  night  ;  &  ye  next 
day  ;  so  y*  soe  of  ye  seamen  thought 
we  were  coe  by  this   tyme   100 
leagues  fro  England,  but  toward 
night  ye  wind  was  calme. 

[,  -i  Saturday  we  were  becalmed  all  day. 
J  This  day  met  vs  a  little  shipp  of 
Bristoll  y*  came  fro  Christopher  Hands. 

[-1  Sabath  being  ye  first  Lords  day  we 
'  "J  held  at  sea  was  very  calme,  es- 
pecially in  the  morning,  but  we  were 
disturbed  in  or  morning  Service  by  ye 
approach  of  a  Biskaniers  shippe,  a  man 
of  warre,  y*  made  towards  vs,  &  manned 
out  his  boate  to  viewe  vs  :  But  fynding  vs 
too  strong  for  him  he  durst  not  venture 
to  assault  vs,  but  made  off. 

This  day  my  2  children  Samuel  &  Mary 
began  to  be  sicke  of  ye  small-pockes  & 
purples  together,  wch  was  brought  into 
ye  ship  by  one  Mr  Browne  w<&  was  sicke 
of  ye  same  at  Graues  End,  who  it  pleased 
God  to  make  ye  first  occasio  of  bringing 
y*  contagious  sicknes  among  vs,  wherewth 
many  were  after  afflicted. 

[  65  ]  Monday 


[May] 


A  True  Relation  of  the 

ft  -|  Monday  calme  still,  ye  wind  being 
"J  no:  w:  blowing  a  little  towards 
euening,  but  contrary  to  or  course. 

[-1  Tewsday  wind  so:  w:  as  little 
"*J  helpfull  as  ye  former  &  blowing 
uery  weake.  This  day  ye  mr  of  or  ship, 
my  selfe  &  another  went  aboard  the 
Lions  whelpe,  where  Mr  Gibs  made  vs 
welcoe  wth  bountifull  entertaynemt.  And 
this  day  towards  night  my  daughter  grew 
sicker  &  many  blew  Spots  were  scene  vpo 
her  breast,  wch  affrighted  vs.  At  ye  first 
wee  thought  yy  had  bene  ye  plague 
tokens;  but  we  found  afterwards  y*  it 
was  onely  an  high  measure  of  ye  infectio 
of  ye  pockes,  wch  were  strucke  agayne 
into  ye  child,  &  so  it  was  Gods  will  ye 
child  dyed  about  5  of  ye  clocke  at  night, 
being  ye  first  in  or  shipp  y*  was  buried  in 
the  bowells  of  ye  great  Atlanticke  Sea  ; 
wch  as  it  was  a  griefe  to  vs  her  parents,  & 
a  sorrow  to  all  ye  rest  as  being  ye  begin- 
ning of  a  contagious  disease  &  mortality: 
so  in  ye  same  judgemt  it  pleased  God  to 
remember  mercy  in  ye  child,  in  freeing 
it  fro  a  world  of  misery  wherein  other- 
wise shee  had  liued  all  her  daies.  For 
being  about  4  yeares  ould  a  yeare  since, 
wee  know  not  by  what  meanes,  sweyed  in 
ye  backe,  so  yt  it  was  broken  &  grew 
crooked,  &  ye  joynts  of  her  hipps  were 
[  66  ]  loosed 


Last  Voyage  to  New  England 

loosed  &  her  knees  went  crooked  pittifull 
to  see.  Since  wch  tyme  shee  hath  had  a 
most  lamentable  payne  in  her  belly,  & 
would  oft  times  cry  out  in  ye  day  &  in  her 
sleep  also  my  belly,  wch  declared  soe  ex- 
traordinary distemper.  So  y*  in  respect  of 
her  wee  had  cause  to  take  her  death  as  a 
blessing  fro  ye  Lord  to  shorten  her  mis- 
erie. 

r-*r  -i  Wednesday  a  wett  morning, 

[_May20J  yewindwasW:S:W:  &  in 
ye  afternoone  N:  W:  &  by  W:  both 
being  contrary  to  or  course,  wch  was  to 
saile  W:  &  by  S:  Thus  it  pleased  god 
to  lay  his  hand  vpo  vs  by  sicknes  & 
death  &  contrary  winds;  &  stirred  vp 
soe  of  vs  to  make  ye  moton  of  hum- 
bling or  selves  vnder  ye  hand  of  God 
by  keeping  a  solemne  day  of  fasting  & 
prayer  unto  God,  to  beseech  him  to  re- 
mooue  ye  continuance  &  further  in- 
crease of  these  evills  fro  vs.  wch  was  will- 
ingly condescended  vnto  as  a  duty  very 
fitting  &  needfull  for  or  present  state  and 
condicon. 

r  -i  Thursday,  there  being  2  ministers 
L  *  J  in  ye  ship,  Mr  Smith  &  my  selfe, 


we  endevoured  together  wth  others  to 
consecrate  ye  day  as  a  solemne  fasting  & 
humiliacbn  to  almighty  God,asafurther- 
aunce  oforpresentworke.  And  it  pleased 
[  67  ]  God 


A  True  Relation  of  the 

God  ye  ship  was  becalmed  all  day,  so  yt 
we  were  freed  fro  any  encumbraunce: 
And  as  soone  as  we  had  done  prayers, 
see  &  behould  ye  goodnes  of  god,  about 
7  a  clocke  at  night  ye  wind  turned  to 
n :  e:  &  we  had  a  fayre  gale  yt  night  as  a 
manifest  evidence  of  ye  Lords  hearing 
or  prayers.  I  heard  soe  of  ye  mariners  say, 
yy  thought  this  was  ye  first  sea-fast  yt  euer 
was  kept,  &  yt  yy  neuer  heard  of  ye  like 
perfourmed  at  sea  before. 

[-j  Fry  day  ye  wind  fayre,  &  east  north- 
j  erly,  &  for  or  purpose  for  new 
p,  .  -i  England,  it  did  blow  strongly  & 
L  J  J  carried  vs  on  amayne  wth  tossing 
waues,  wch  did  affright  y™  yt  were  not 
wonted  to  such  sights. 

[-i  Saturday  ye  same  wind  blowing 
3*J  but  more  gently.  Now  we  were 
coforted  wth  hope  of  my  sonne  Samuels 
recovery  of  ye  pockes. 
p  -i  The  2  Lords  day,  a  fayre  day,  an 
L  ^"J  orderly  wind  &  prosperous. 

On  Monday  a  fayre  frummegale, 

ye  wind  South  S :  W : 

Tewsday  about  10  of  ye  clocke  in 

ye  morning,  whilest  we  were  at 
prayers  a  strong  and  sudden  blast  came 
fro  ye  north,  yt  hoysed  vp  ye  waues  & 
tossed  vs  more  then  euer  before  &  held  vs 
all  yt  day  till  towards  night  &  then  abated 
[  68  ]  by 


r      1  Ol 

[»s] 


Last  Voyage  to  New  England 

by  little  &  little  till  it  was  calme.  This 
day  Mr  Goffes  great  dogg  fell  ouer  board 
&  could  not  be  recouered. 

[9  -  "]  Wednesday,  ye  wind  still  no :  & 
'  *J  calme  in  ye  morning,  but  about 
noone  there  arose  a  So:  wind,  wch  en- 
creased  more  &  more,  so  yt  it  seemed  to  vs 
yt  are  land  men  a  sore  &  terrible  storme ; 
for  ye  wind  blew  mightily,  ye  rayne  fell 
vehemently,  ye  sea  roared  &  ye  waues 
tossed  vs  horribly ;  besides  it  was  fearfull 
darke  &  ye  mariners  maid  was  afraid; 
&  noyse  on  the  other  side  wth  their  run- 
ning here  &  there,  lowd  crying  one  to 
another  to  pull  at  this  &  yt  rope.  The 
fM  1  waues  powred  ymselues  ouer 

L  '  '  J  ye  shippe  yt  ye  2  boates  were 
filled  w^  water,  yt  yy  were  fayne  to 
strike  holes  in  ye  midst  of  y™  to  let  ye 
water  out.  Yea  by  ye  violence  of  ye  waues 
ye  long  boate  coard  wch  held  it  was  bro- 
ken, &  it  had  like  to  haue  bene  washed 
ouerboard,  had  not  ye  mariners  wth  much 
payne  &  daunger  recouered  ye  same.  But 
this  lasted  not  many  houres;  after  which 
it  became  a  calmish  day.  All  wch  while 
I  lay  close  &  warme  in  my  cabine,  but 
farre  fro  hauing  list  to  sleepe  wth  Jonah; 
my  thoughts  were  otherwise  employed 
as  ye  tyme  &  place  required.  Then  I  saw 
ye  truth  of  ye  Scripture  Psal.  1 07,  fro  ye 
[  69  ]  23 


A  'True  Relation  of  the 

23  to  ye  32.  And  my  feare  at  this  tymc 
was  ye  lesse,  when  I  rememberd  what  a 
loving  friend  of  myne,  a  minister  accus- 
tomed to  sea  stormes  said  to  mee  yt  I 
might  not  be  dismayed  at  such  stormes, 
for  yy  were  ordinary  at  seas,  &  it  seeldome 
falls  out  yt  a  shipp  perisheth  at  storms  if 
it  haue  sea-roome,  wch  I  ye  rather  wryte 
yt  others  as  well  as  my  selfe  by  ye  know- 
ledge hereof  may  be  encouraged  &  pre- 
pared agt  these  ordinary  sea-stormes. 
[g        -i  Thursday  So:  wind:  calme  at 
9J  night:  On  fryday  a  boistrous 
wind  blowing  crosse,  but  was  allayed  to- 
wards night  w*h  a  showre  of  rayne.  Sat- 
[-1  urday  So :  w :  wind,  but  faire  & 
3°Jquiett. 

TlUav  ~T1Sabbath  da7  beinS  T  3 
L1V  ay  3  J  J  Lords  day,  fayre  &  calme; 

wee  saw  abundance  of  grampas  fishes,  2 
or  3  yards  long,  &  a  body  as  bigg  as  an 
oxe. 

U-i  Monday  ye  wind  westerly  & 
U          J  calme:   but  besides  or  being 
stayed  by  contrary  winds  we  began  to 
fynd  ye  temperature  of  ye  ayre  to  alter 
&  to  become  more  soletry  &  subject  to 
vnwholsome  foggs.  For  coming  now  to 
ye  height  of  ye  westerne  Islands,  soe  of 
or  men  fell  sicke  of  ye  scuruie  &  others 
of  the  small  pockes,  wch  more  &  more 
[  70  ]  increased: 


Last  Voyage  to  New  England 

increased:  yet  thankes  be  to  God  none 
dyed  of  it  but  my  owne  child  mencohd. 
And  therefore,  according  to  or  great  need 
we  appointed  another  fast  for  the  next 
day. 

[-1  Te wsday  we  solemnely  celebrate  an- 
2'J  other  fast.  The  Lord  yt  day  heard 
vs  before  wee  prayed  &  gaue  vs  aunswere 
before  we  called ;  for  early  in  ye  morning 
ye  wind  turned  full  East,  being  as  fitt  a 
wind  as  could  blowe.  And  sitting  at  my 
study  on  ye  shipps  poope  I  saw  many 
bonny  fishes  &  porpuses  pursuing  one  an- 
other, and  leaping  soe  of  ym  a  yard  aboue 
ye  water.  Also  as  we  were  at  prayer,  vnder 
ye  hatch,  soe  yt  were  aboue  saw  a  whale 
puffing  vp  water  not  farre  fro  ye  shippe, 
Nowmywiffe  was  prettily  well  recouered 
of  her  sea  sicknesse. 

[-1  Wednesday  a  fayre  day  &  fyne  gale 
3*J  of  full  East  wind.  This  day  my  selfe 
&  others  saw  a  large  round  fish  sayling 

U-i  by  ye  ships  side  about  a  yard  in 
J  length  &  roundnes  euery  way. 
The  mariners  cald  it  a  sunne  fish;   it 
spreadeth  out  ye  finnes  like  beames  on 
euery  side  4,  or  5. 

[-1  Thursday  &  fryday  ye  wind  full 
T^  J  *J  E :  we  were  carried  wth  admira- 
con  on  orjourney.  By  this  wee  were  more 
then  halfe  way  to  new  England.  This  day 

[71  ]  i 


A  True  Relation  of  the 

I  saw  a  fish  very  straunge  to  mee,  yy  call 
it  a  caruell ;  wch  came  by  ye  ship  side  waft- 
ing along  ye  top  of  ye  water,  it  appeared 
at  ye  first  like  a  bubble  aboue  the  water 
as  bigg  as  a  mans  fist,  but  ye  fish  it  selfe 
is  about  ye  bignes  of  a  mans  thum,  so  y* 
ye  fish  it  selfe  &  ye  bubble  resembleth  a 
shipp  w*h  sailes,  wch  therefore  is  called  a 
caruell. 

[/-     -i  Saturday  wind  direct  E :  still.  The 
'  J  4  Sabb:  we  kept  at  sea  the  wind 
full  full    Easterly   till    noone,   &   then 
r-g-i  it  came  full  So:E:  a  strong  gale  y* 
L   J  night  &  ye  next  day  till  night. 

[-1  Tewsday  ye  same  wind  held  till  9 
'J  a  clock  in  ye  morning:  &  then  a 
great  showre  wch  lasted  till  about  7  at 
night,  &  then  it  was  a  very  calme.  There 
we  sounded  wth  a  dipled  lyne  aboue 
i  ooth  fadome  &  found  no  bottome.  This 
day  we  saw  a  fish  called  a  turkle,  a  great 
&  large  shell  fish  swiming  aboue  ye  water 
neere  ye  shippe. 

r  -i  Wednesday  wind  northerly  a  fyne 
L  *  °  J  gale  but  calmish  in  ye  afternoone. 

[T         -i  Thursday  ye  wind  at  no :  an 
I  junej  easve  gaje  g£  fayre  morning 

we  saw  a  mountayne  of  Ice  shyning  as 
white  as  snow  like  to  a  great  rocke  or 
clift  on  ye  shoare.  it  stood  still  &  there- 
fore we  thought  it  to  be  on  ground  &  to 
[  72  ]  reach 


Last  Voyage  to  New  England 

reach  ye  bottome  of  ye  sea.  For  though 
there  came  a  mighty  streame  fro  ye  no : 
yet  it  mooued  not,  wch  made  vs  sound, 
&we  found  a  banke  of  40  fathom  deepe 
whereupo  we  judged  it  to  rest:  &  ye 
height  aboue  was  as  much.  Wee  also 
saw  6  or  7  pieces  of  Ice,  floating  on  ye 
sea,  wch  was  broken  off  fro  ye  former 
mountayne,  we  also  saw  great  store  of 
water  fowle  swiming  by  ye  shipp  w*hin 
musket  shott,  of  a  pyde  colour  &  about 
ye  bignes  of  a  wild  ducke,  about  40  in  a 
copany,  the  mariners  call  ym  hag  birds. 
Toward  night  came  a  fogge,  yt  ye  lions 
whelp  was  lost  till  morning.  And  now 
we  saw  many  bony  toes  porpuses  and 
grampases  every  day  more  &  more. 

-i  Fryday  foggie  &  calmish,  ye  wind 
L1  2  J  northerly  in  ye  morning,  but  about 
noone  it  came  S :  E :  a  dainty  loome  gale 
wch  carried  vs  6  leagues  a  watch. 

[-1  Saturday  ye  same  wind  till  night, 
3  J  &  we  saw  great  store  of  porpuses  & 
grampases. 

[-1  The  5*h  Sabbath,  ye  same  wind, 
4"J  towards  noone  it  began  to  be  fog- 
gie, &  then  it  rained  till  night  we  went 
4  or  5  leagues  a  watch. 

U-i  Monday  a    fayre    day  but 
J  foggie,  ye  same  wind  blow- 
ing but  wth  fresh  gale  carry ed  vs  7  leagues 

[  73  ' 


A  True  Relation  of  the 

a  watch.  In  ye  afternoone  it  blew  harder, 
so  ye  sea  was  rough,  &  we  lost  ye  sight  of 
ye  lions  whelpe:  it  being  foggie  we 
drumed  for  ym&  yy  shot  off  a  great  piece 
of  ordinance  but  we  feared  not  one  an- 
other. 

[x--i  Tewsday  wind  So:  &  by  E:  fog- 
J  gie  till  about  i  o  a  clocke  while  we 
were  at  prayers  it  cleared  vp  about  an 
houre,  &  then  we  saw  ye  lions  whelpe  dis- 
tant about  2  leagues  southward,  wee  pre- 
sently tackt  about  to  meet  her&  sheedid 
ye  same  to  meete  vs,  but  before  we  could 
get  together  a  thick  fogge  came,  yt  we 
were  long  in  fynding  each  other.  This 
day  we  sounded  divers  tymes,&  found  or- 
selves  on  another  banke,  at  first  40  fathom, 
after  36.  after  33.  after  24.  wee  thought 
it  to  haue  bene  ye  banke  ouer  ag*  chap 
Sable,  but  we  were  deceiued,  for  we  knew 
not  certainly  where  we  were  because  of  ye 
fogge.  After  3  or  4  houres  copany  we  lost 
ye  lions  whelpe  agayne:  &beate  ordrume 
&  shot  off  a  great  piece  of  ordinaunce  & 
yet  heard  not  of  ym.  But  perceiuing  ye 
banke  to  grow  still  y*  shallower  we  found 
it  27  &  24  fathoms.  Therefore  being  a 
fogg  &  fearing  wee  were  too  neere  land 
we  tackt  about  for  sea  roome  for  2  or  3 
watches,  &  steered  Southeast. 

[  74  ]  Wednesday 


Last  Voyage  to  New  England 

r  -]  Wednesday  very  foggie  still  &  wind 
L  '  J  S:  and  by  w:  &  sounding  found 
no  bottome  yt  we  could  reach, 
r  g-i  Thursday  wind  full  w:  &  contra- 
L  J  ry  to  vs.  This  day  a  notorious  wick- 
ed fellow  yt  was  giuen  to  swearing  & 
boasting  of  his  former  wickednes  bragged 
yt  hee  had  got  a  wench  wth  child  before 
hee  came  this  voyage  &  mocked  at  or  daies 
of  fast  railing  &  jesting  agt  puritans,  this 
fellow  fell  sicke  of  ye  pockes  &  dyed.  Wee 
sounded  and  found  38  fathom,  &  stayed 
for  a  little  to  take  soe  codfish  &  feasted 
orselves  merily. 

[-1  Fry  day  wind  west  still,  a  very  fayre 
9J  cleareday.  About  4  a  clock  in  ye  af- 
ternoone  soe  went  vp  to  ye  top  of  ye  mast, 
&  affirmed  to  or  great  cofort  yy  saw  land 
to  ye  north  eastward. 

[-]  Saturday  wind  So :  w :  a  fayre  gale : 
J  we  sounded  &  found  40,  30,  22,  & 
a  little  after  no  ground. 

[-1  Sabb:   being  ye    6th    Lords   day; 
J  wind  westerly  but  fayre  &  calme. 
[-]  Monday  wind  Easterly  a  fayre  gale. 
J  This  day  wee  saw  a  great  deale  of 
froth  not  farre  fro  vs :  wee  feared  it  might 
bee  soe  breach  of  water  agt  some  new 
qvote.2  Therefore  ye  m*  of  or  shipp  hoised 
out  ye  shalop  &  went  wth  soe  of  ye  men  to  see 
what  it  was ;  but  found  it  onely  to  bee  a 
[  75  ]  froath 


A  True  Relation  of  the 
froath  carried  by  ye  streame. 

Uune  2^-]Tewsdayyewindn:E:a%re 
^  J  gale.  This  day  we  examined 

5  beastly  Sodomiticall  boyes,  wch  con- 
fessed their  wickednes  not  to  bee  named. 
The  fact  was  so  fowle  wee  referred  y™  to 
bee  punished  by  ye  governor  when  we 
came  to  new  England,  who  afterward  sent 
ym  backe  to  ye  copany  to  bee  punished  in 
ould  England  as  ye  crime  deserued. 
r  -i  Wednesday  wind  no:  E:  a  fayre 
L  4"J  day  &  cleare:  about  9  a  clocke  in 
ye  morning  we  espied  a  shipp  about  4 
leagues  behind  vs;  wch  prooued  ye  lions 
whelpe,  wch  had  bene  a  weeke  separated 
fro  vs.  we  stayed  for  [blot  (her)]  copany. 
This  day  a  child  of  goodman  Blacke  wch 
had  a  cosumpcon  before  it  came  to  shipp, 
dyed.  This  day  we  had  all  a  cleare  &  co- 
fortable  sight  of  America,  &  of  ye  Chap 
Sable  yt  was  ouer  ag*  vs  7  or  8  leagues 
northward.  Here  we  saw  yellow  gilliflow- 
ers  on  ye  sea. 

r  -i  Thursday  wind  still  no:  Ea :  a  full 
L  5  J  &  fresh  gale.  In  ye  after  noone  wee 
had  a  cleare  sight  of  many  Islands  & 
hills  by  ye  sea  shoare.  Now  we  saw  abund- 
aunce  of  makrill,  a  great  store  of  great 
whales  puffing  vp  water  as  yy  goe,  soe  of 
ym  came  neere  or  shipp:  their  greatnes  did 
astonish  vs  yt  saw  ym  not  before :  their 
[  76  ]  backs 


Last  Voyage  to  New  England 

backs  appeared  like  a  little  Island.  At  5 
a  clock  at3  night  the  wind  turned  S.  E.  a 
fayre  gale.  This  day  we  caught  mackrill. 

[x-  -]  Fryday  a  foggie  morning,  but  after 
J  cleare  and  wind  calme.  We  saw 
many  scools  of  mackrill,  infinite  multi- 
tudes on  every  side  our  ship.  The  sea  was 
abundantly  stored  with  rockweed  and  yel- 
low flowers  like  gilly-flowers.  By  noon 
we  were  within  3  leagues  of  Capan,  and 
as  we  sayled  along  the  coasts  we  saw  every 
hill  and  dale  and  every  island  full  of  gay 
woods  and  high  trees.  The  nearer  we  came 
to  the  shoare  the  more  flowers  in  abund- 
ance, sometymes  scattered  abroad,  some- 
tymes  joyned  in  sheets  9  or  i  o  yards  long, 
which  we  supposed  to  be  brought  from 
the  low  meadowes  by  the  tyde.  Now  what 
with  fine  woods  and  greene  trees  by  land, 
and  these  yellow  flowers  paynting  the  sea, 
made  us  all  desirous  to  see  our  new  para- 
dise of  New  England,  whence  we  saw  such 
forerunning  signals  of  fertilitie  afarre  off". 
Coming  neare  the  harbour  towards  night 
we  takt  about  for  sea-roome. 
r  -i  Saturday  a  foggie  morning;  but  af- 
L  '  J  ter  8  o'clocke  in  the  morning  very 
cleare,  the  wind  being  somewhat  contrary 
at  So.  and  by  West,  wetackt  to  and  againe 
with  getting  little ;  but  with  much  adoe, 
about  4  o'clock  in  the  afternoone,  having 
[  77  ]  with 


A  True  Relation  of  the 

with  much  pay ne  compassed  the  harbour, 
and  being  ready  to  enter  the  same,  see 
how  things  may  suddenly  change!  there 
came  a  fearfull  gust  of  wind  and  rayne  and 
thunder  and  lightning,  whereby  we  were 
borne  with  no  little  terrour  and  trouble 
to  our  mariners,  having  very  much  adoe 
to  loose  downe  the  sayles  when  the  fury 
of  the  storme  held  up.  But  God  be  praised 
it  lasted  but  a  while  and  soone  abated 
agayne.  And  hereby  the  Lord  shewed  us 
what  he  could  have  done  with  us,  if  it  had 
pleased  him.  But  blessed  be  God,  he  soone 
removed  this  storme  and  it  was  a  fay  re  and 
sweet  evening. 

We  had  a  westerly  wind  which  brought 
us  between  5  and  6  o'clock  to  a  fyne  and 
sweet  harbour,4  7  miles  from  the  head 
point  of  Capan.  This  harbour  20  ships 
may  easily  ryde  therein,  where  there  was 
an  island  whither  four  of  our  men  with 
a  boate  went,  and  brought  backe  agayne 
ripe  strawberries  and  gooseberries,  and 
sweet  single  roses.  Thus  God  was  merci- 
ful to  us  in  giving  us  a  tast  and  smell  of 
the  sweet  fruit  as  an  earnest  of  his  bounti- 
ful goodnes  to  welcome  us  at  our  first 
arrivall.  This  harbour  was  two  leagues 
and  something  more  from  the  harbour  at 
Naimkecke,  where  our  ships  were  to  rest, 
and  the  plantation  is  already  begun.  But 
[  78  ]  because 


Last  Voyage  to  New  England 

because  the  passage  is  difficult  and  night 
drew  on,  we  put  into  Capan  harbour, 
r  o-i  The  Sabbath,  being  the  first  we 
L  J  kept  in  America,  and  the  7th  Lord's 
day  after  we  parted  with  England, 
r  -i  Monday  we  came  from  Capan,  to  go 
L  '  J  to  Naimkecke,  the  wind  northerly. 
I  should  have  tould  you  before  that  the 
planters  spying  our  English  colours  the 
Governour  sent  a  shalop  with  2  men  on 
Saturday  to  pilot  us.  These  rested  the 
Sabbath  with  us  at  Capan ;  and  this  day, 
by  God's  blessing  and  their  directions,  we 
passed  the  curious  and  difficult  entrance 
into  the  large  spacious  harbour  of  Naim- 
kecke. And  as  we  passed  along  it  was 
wonderful  to  behould  so  many  islands 
replenished  with  thicke  wood  and  high 
trees,  and  many  fayre  greene  pastures. 
And  being  come  into  the  harbour  we  saw 
the  George  to  our  great  comfort  then 
being  come  on  Tuesday  which  was  7 
dales  before  us.  We  rested  that  night 
with  glad  and  thankful  hearts  that  God 
had  put  an  end  to  our  long  and  tedious 
journey  through  the  greatest  sea  in  the 
world. 

r  -i  The  next  morning  the  governour 
L^  J  came  aboard  to  our  ship,  and  bade 
us  kindly  welcome,  and  invited  me  and 
my  wiffe  to  come  on  shoare,  and  take  our 
[  79  ]  lodging 


A  True  Relation  of  the 

lodging  in  his  house,  which  we  did  ac- 
cordingly. 

Thus  you  have  a  faithful  report  col- 
lected from  day  to  day  of  all  the  partic- 
ulars that  were  worth  noting  in  our 
passage. 

Now  in  our  passage  divers  things  are 
remarkeable. 

First,  through  God's  blessing  our  pas- 
sage was  short  and  speedy,  for  whereas 
we  had  1000  leagues,  that  is  3000  miles 
English,  to  saile  from  Ould  to  New  Eng- 
land, we  performed  the  same  in  6  weeks 
and  3  dayes. 

Secondly,  our  passage  was  comfort- 
able and  easie  for  the  most  part,  having 
ordinarily  fayre  and  moderate  wind,  and 
being  freed  for  the  most  part  from 
stormie  and  rough  seas,  saving  one  night 
only,  which  we  that  were  not  used 
thought  to  be  more  terrible  than  indeed 
it  was,  and  this  was  Wednesday  at  night 
May  a/th. 

Thirdly,  our  passage  was  also  health- 
full  to  our  passengers,  being  freed  from 
the  great  contagion  of  the  scurvie  and 
other  maledictions,  which  in  other  pass- 
ages to  other  places  had  taken  away  the 
[  80  ]  lives 


Last  Voyage  to  New  England 

lives  of  many.  And  yet  we  were  in  all 
reason  in  wonderful  danger  all  the  way, 
our  ship  being  greatly  crowded  with  pas- 
sengers ;  but  through  God's  great  good- 
ness we  had  none  that  died  of  the  pockes 
but  that  wicked  fellow  that  scorned  at 
fasting  and  prayer.  There  were  indeed 
2  little  children,  one  of  my  owne  and 
another  beside ;  but  I  do  not  impute  it 
meerely  to  the  passage;  for  they  were 
both  very  sickly  children,  and  not  likely 
to  have  lived  long,  if  they  had  not  gone 
to  sea.  And  take  this  for  a  rule,  if  child- 
ren be  healthfull  when  they  come  to  sea, 
the  younger  they  are  the  better  they  will 
endure  the  sea,  and  are  not  troubled  with 
sea-sicknes  as  older  people  are,  as  we 
had  experience  in  many  children  that 
went  this  voyage.  My  wiffe  indeed,  in 
tossing  weather,  was  something  ill  by 
vomiting,  but  in  calme  weather  she  re- 
covered agayne,  and  is  now  much  better 
for  the  sea  sicknes.  And  for  my  owne 
part,  whereas  I  have  for  divers  yeares  past 
been  very  sickly  and  ready  to  cast  up  what- 
soever I  have  eaten,  and  was  very  sicke 
at  London  and  Gravesend,  yet  from  the 
tyme  I  came  on  shipboard  to  this  day, 
I  have  been  straungely  healthfull.  And 
now  I  can  digest  our  ship  diett  very  well, 
which  I  could  not  when  I  was  at  land. 
[  81  ]  And 


A  True  Relation  of  the 

And  indeed  in  this  regard  I  have  great 
cause  to  give  God  praise,  that  he  hath 
made  my  coming  to  be  a  method  to  cure 
me  of  a  wonderful  weake  stomacke  and 
continual  payne  of  melancholly  wynd 
from  the  splene:  Also  divers  children 
were  sicke  of  the  small  pockes,  but  are 
safely  recovered  agayne,  and  2  or  3  pas- 
sengers towards  the  latter  end  of  the  voy- 
age fell  sicke  of  the  scurvie,  but  coming 
to  land  recovered  in  a  short  tyme. 

Fourthly,  our  passage  was  both  pleas- 
urable and  profitable.  For  we  received 
instruction  and  delight  in  behoulding  the 
wonders  of  the  Lord  in  the  deepe  waters, 
and  sometimes  seeing  the  sea  round  us 
appearing  with  a  terrible  countenance, 
and  as  it  were  full  of  high  hills  and  deepe 
vallyes;  and  sometimes  it  appeared  as  a 
most  plain  and  even  meadow.  And  ever 
and  anon  we  saw  divers  kynds  of  fishes 
sporting  in  the  great  waters,  great  gram- 
puses and  huge  whales  going  by  compan- 
ies and  puffing  up  water-streames.  Those 
that  love  their  owne  chimney  corner,  and 
dare  not  go  farre  beyond  their  owne  townes 
end  shall  neever  have  the  honour  to  see 
these  wonderfull  workes  of  Almighty 
God. 

Fifthly,  we  had  a  pious  and  christian- 

like  passage;  for  I  suppose  passengers  shall 

[   82  ]  seldom 


Last  Voyage  to  New  England 

seldom  find  a  company  of  more  religious, 
honest  and  kynd  seamen  than  we  had. 
We  constantly  served  God  morning  and 
evening  by  reading  and  expounding  a 
chapter,  singing,  and  prayer.  And  the 
Sabbath  was  solemnely  kept  by  adding  to 
the  former,  preaching  twise  and  catechis- 
ing. And  in  our  great  need  we  kept  2  sol- 
emne  fasts,  and  found  a  gracious  effect. 
Let  all  that  love  and  use  fasting  and  pray- 
ing take  notise  that  it  is  as  prevaileable 
by  sea  as  by  land,  wheresoever  it  is  faith- 
fully performed.  Besides  the  ship  master 
and  his  company  used  every  night  to  sett 
their  8  and  1 2  a  clocke  watches  with 
singing  a  psalm e  and  prayer  that  was  not 
read  out  of  a  booke.  This  I  wryte  not  for 
boasting  and  flattery;  but  for  the  benefit 
of  those  that  have  a  mynd  to  come  to 
New  England  hereafter,  that  if  they  looke 
for  and  desyre  to  have  as  prosperous  a 
voyage  as  we  had,  they  may  use  the  same 
meanes  to  attayne  the  same.  So  letting 
passe  our  passage  by  sea,  we  will  now  bring 
our  discourse  to  land  on  the  shoare  of  New 
England,  and  I  shall  by  God's  assistance 
endeavour  to  speake  nothing  but  the 
naked  truth,  and  both  acquaint  you  with 
the  commodities  and  discommodities  of 
the  country. 


NEW-ENGLANDS  PLANTATION 
&c. 


NEW-ENGLANDS 
PLANTATION 

OR, 

A  SHORT  AND   TRVE 

DESCRIPTION  OF  THE 

COMMODITIES  AND 

DISCOMMODITIES 

of  that  Countrey. 


Written  by  Mr  Higgeson,  a  reuerend 
Diuine  now  there  resident. 


Whereunto  is  added  a  Letter,  sent  by 
Mr  Graues  an  Enginere,  out  of  New  England. 

T'he  third  Edition^  enlarged. 


LONDON. 

Printed  by  CT.  and  R.  Cotes  for  Micbae I  Sparke, 

dwelling  at  the  Signe  of  the  Blue  Bible  in 

Greene- Arbor,  1630. 


To  the  Reader. 

Reader ',  doe  not  disdaine  to  reade  this 
Relation :  and  looke  not  here  to  haue 
a  large  Gate  and  no  building  'within:  a 
full-stuffed  Tittle  with  no  matter  in  the 
Eooke :  But  here  reade  the  truth,  and  that 
thou  shalt  find  without  any  frothy  bumbasting 
words,  or  any  quaint  new-deuised  additions, 
onely  as  it  was  written  (not  intended  for  the 
Presse}  by  a  reuerend  Diuine  now  there  liu- 
ing,  who  onely  sent  it  to  some  Friends  here, 
which  were  desirous  of  his  Relations;  which 
is  an  Rpitomy  of  their  proceedings  in  the 
Plantation.  And  for  thy  part  if  thou  mean- 
est to  be  no  Planter  nor  Venturer  doe  but 
lend  thy  good  Prayers  for  the  furtherance  of 
it.  And  so  I  rest  a  Well-Wisher  to  all  the 
good  designes  both  of  them  which  are  gone, 
and  of  them  that  are  to  goe. 

M.  S. 


NEW-ENGLANDS 

PLANTATION. 

Etting  passe  our  Voyage 
by  Sea,  we  will  now  be- 
gin our  discourse  on  the 
shore  of  New-England. 
And  because  the  life 
and  wel-fare  of  euery 
Creature  heere  below, 
and  the  commodiousnesse  of  the  Coun- 
trey  whereas  such  Creatures  Hue,  doth  by 
the  most  wise  ordering  of  Gods  prouid- 
ence,  depend  next  vnto  himselfe,  vpon 
the  temperature  and  disposition  of  the 
foure  Elements,  Earth,  Water,  Aire,  and 
Fire  (For  as  of  the  mixture  of  all  these, 
all  sublunary  things  are  composed;  so  by 
the  more  or  lesseinjoyment  of  the  whole- 
some temper  and  conuenient  vse  of  these, 
consisteth  the  onely  well-being  both  of 
Man  and  Beast  in  a  more  or  lesse  com- 
fortable measure  in  all  Countreys  vnder 
the  Heauens)  Therefore  I  will  indeauour 
to  shew  you  what  New-England  is  by  the 
consideration  of  each  of  these  apart,  and 
[  89  ]  truly 


New-Englands  Plantation 

truly  indeauour  by  Gods  helpe  to  report 
nothing  but  the  naked  truth,  and  that 
both  to  tell  you  of  the  discommodities 
as  well  as  of  the  commodities,  though  as 
the  idle  Prouerbe  is,  Trauellers  may  lye  by 
autoritie,  and  so  may  take  too  much  sin- 
full  libertie  that  way.  Yet  I  may  say  of 
my  selfe  as  once  Nehemiah  did  in  another 
case :  Shall  such  a  Man  as  I  lye  ?  No  ver- 
ily: It  becommeth  not  a  Preacher  of 
Truth  to  be  a  Writer  of  Falshod  in  any 
degree:  and  therefore  I  haue  beene  care- 
full  to  report  nothing  of  new  England  but 
what  I  haue  partly  scene  with  mine  owne 
Eyes,  and  partly  heard  and  inquired  from 
the  mouths  of  verie  honest  and  religious 
persons,  who  by  liuing  in  the  Countrey  a 
good  space  of  time  haue  had  experience 
and  knowledge  of  the  state  thereof,  & 
whose  testimonies  I  doe  beleeue  as  my 
selfe. 

First  therefore  of  the  Earth  of  New- 
England  and  all  the  appertenances  there- 
of: It  is  a  Land  of  diuers  and  sundry  sorts 
all  about  Masathulets  Bay,  and  at  Charles 
Riuer  is  as  fat  blacke  Earth  as  can  be  scene 
any  where :  and  in  other  places  you  haue 
a  clay  soyle,  in  other  grauell,  in  other 
sandy,  as  it  is  all  about  our  Plantation  at 
Salem,  for  so  our  Towne  is  now  named, 
Psal.  76.  2. 

[  90  ]  The 


New-Englands  Plantation 

The  forme  of  the  Earth  here  in  the 
superficies  of  it  is  neither  too  flat  in 
the  plainnesse,  nor  too  high  in  Hils, 
but  partakes  of  both  in  a  mediocritie,  and 
fit  for  Pasture,  or  for  Plow  or  meddow 
ground,  as  Men  please  to  employ  it: 
though  all  the  Countrey  bee  as  it  were  a 
thicke  Wood  for  the  generall,yet  in  diuers 
places  there  is  much  ground  cleared  by 
the  Indians,  and  especially  about  the  Plan- 
tation: and  I  am  told  that  about  three 
miles  from  vs  a  Man  may  stand  on  a  little 
hilly  place  and  see  diuers  thousands  of 
acres  of  ground  as  good  as  need  to  be,  and 
not  a  Tree  in  the  same.  It  is  thought  here 
is  good  Clay  to  make  Bricke  and  Tyles 
and  Earthen-Pot  as  need  to  be.  At  this 
instant  we  are  setting  a  Bricke-Kill  on 
worke  to  make  Brickes  and  Tyles  for  the 
building  of  our  Houses.  For  Stone,  here 
is  plentie  of  Slates  at  the  He  of  Slate  in 
Masatbulets  Bay,  and  Lime-stone,  Free- 
stone, and  Smooth-stone,  and  Iron-stone, 
and  Marble-stone  also  in  such  store,  that 
we  haue  great  Rocks  of  it,  and  a  Harbour 
hard  by.  Our  Plantation  is  from  thence 
called  Marble-harbour. 

Of  Minerals  there  hath  yet  beene  but 
little  triall  made,  yet  we  are  not  without 
great  hope  of  being  furnished  in  that 
Soyle. 

[  91   ]  The 


New-Englands  Plantation 

The  fertilitie  of  the  Soyle  is  to  be  ad- 
mired at,  as  appeareth  in  the  aboundance 
of  Grasse  that  groweth  euerie  where  both 
verie  thicke,  verie  long,  and  verie  high 
in  diuers  places:  but  it  groweth  verie 
wildly  with  a  great  stalke  and  a  broad  and 
ranker  blade,  because  it  neuer  had  been 
eaten  with  Cattle,  nor  mowed  with  a 
Sythe,  and  seldome  trampled  on  by  foot. 
It  is  scarce  to  be  beleeued  how  our  Kine 
and  Goats,  Horses  and  Hogges  doe  thriue 
and  prosper  here  and  like  well  of  this 
Countrey. 

In  our  Plantation  we  haue  already  a 
quartof  Milkefor  a  penny:  but  the  abound- 
ant  encrease  of  Corne  proues  this  Coun- 
trey to  bee  a  wonderment.  Thirtie,  fortie, 
fiftie,  sixtie  are  ordinarie  here:  yea  Jo- 
seph's encrease  in  JEgyt  is  out-stript  here 
with  vs.  Our  planters  hope  to  haue  more 
then  a  hundred  fould  this  yere:  and  all 
this  while  I  am  within  compasse;  what 
will  you  say  of  two  hundred  fould  and  vp- 
wards?  It  is  almost  incredible  what  great 
gaine  some  of  our  English  Planters  haue 
had  by  our  Indian  Corne.  Credible  per- 
sons haue  assured  me,  and  the  partie  him- 
selfe  auouched  the  truth  of  it  to  me,  that 
of  the  setting  of  1 3  gallons  of  Corne  hee 
hath  had  encrease  of  it  52  Hogsheads, 
euery  Hogshead  holding  seuen  Bushels 
[  92  ]  of 


New-England  Plantation 

of  London  measure,  and  eueryBushellwas 
by  him  sold  and  trusted  to  the  Indians  for 
so  much  Beauer  as  was  worth  1 8  shillings ; 
and  so  of  this  1 3  Gallons  of  Corne  which 
was  worth  6  shillings  8  pence,  he  made 
about  327  pounds  of  it  in  the  yeere  fol- 
lowing, as  by  reckoning  will  appeare: 
where  you  may  see  how  God  blessed  hus- 
bandry in  this  Land.  There  is  not  such 
greate  and  plentifull  eares  of  Corne  I  sup- 
pose any  where  else  to  bee  found  but  in  this 
Country :  because  also  of  varietie  of  col- 
ours, as  red,  blew,  and  yellow,  &c.  and  of 
one  Corne  there  springeth  foure  or  fiue 
hundred.  I  haue  sent  you  many  Eares  of 
diuers  colours  that  you  might  see  the  truth 
of  it. 

Little  Children  here  by  setting  of 
Corne  may  earne  much  more  then  their 
owne  maintenance. 

They  haue  tryed  our  English  Corne  at 
new  Plimmouth  Plantation,  so  that  all  our 
seuerall  Graineswill  grow  here  verie  well, 
and  haue  a  fitting  Soyle  for  their  nature. 

Our  Gouernor  hath  store  of  greene 
pease  growing  in  his  garden  as  good  as 
euer  I  eat  in  England. 

This  Countrey  aboundeth  naturally 
with  store  of  rootes  of  great  varietie  and 
good  to  eat.  Our  Turnips,  Parsnips  and 
Carrots  are  here  both  bigger  and  sweeter 

[  93   ]  then 


New-Englands  Plantation 

then  is  ordinarily  to  bee  found  in  England. 
Here  are  store  of  Pumpions,  Cowcombers, 
and  other  things  of  that  nature  which  I 
know  not.  Also  diuers  excellent  Pot- 
herbs grow  abundantly  among  the  Grasse, 
as  Strawberrie  leaues  in  all  places  of  the 
Countrey,  and  plentie  of  strawberries  in 
their  time,  and  Penyroyall,Wintersauerie, 
Sorrell,  Brookelime,  Liuerwort,  Caruell 
and  Watercresses,  also  Leekesand  Onions 
are  ordinarie,  and  diuers  Physicall  Herbs. 
Here  are  also  aboundance  of  other  sweet 
Hearbs  delightfull  to  the  smell,  whose 
names  we  know  not,  &c.  and  plentie  of 
single  Damaske  Roses  verie  sweete ;  and 
two  kinds  of  Herbes  that  beare  two  kinds 
of  Flowers  very  sweet,  which  they  say, 
are  as  good  to  make  Cordage  or  Cloath  as 
any  Hempe  or  Flaxe  we  haue. 

Excellent  Vines  are  here  vp  and  downe 
in  the  Woodes.  Our  Gouernour  hath  al- 
ready planted  a  Vineyard  with  great  hope 
of  encrease. 

Also,  Mulberries,  Plums,  Raspberries, 
Corrance,  Chesnuts,  Filberds,  Walnuts, 
Smalnuts,  Hurtleberies,  &  Hawes  of 
Whitethorne  neere  as  good  as  our  Cher- 
ries in  England^  they  grow  in  plentie 
here. 

For  Wood  there  is  no  better  in  the 
World  I  thinke,  here  being  foure  sorts 

[  94  ]  of 


New-Englands  Plantation 

of  Oke  differing  both  in  the  Leafe,  Tim- 
ber, and  Colour,  all  excellent  good.  There 
is  also  good  Ash,  Elme,  Willow,  Birch, 
Beech,  Saxafras,  Juniper,  Cipres,  Cedar, 
Spruce,  Pines,  &  Firre  that  will  yeeld 
abundance  of  Turpentine,  Pitch,  Tarre, 
Masts  and  other  materials  for  building 
both  of  Ships  and  Houses.  Also  here  are 
store  of  Sumacke  Trees,  they  are  good 
for  dying  and  tanning  of  Leather,  like- 
wise such  trees  yeeld  a  precious  Gem 
called  Wine  Benjamen,  that  they  say  is 
excellent  for  perfumes.  Also  here  be 
diuers  Roots  and  Berries  wherewith  the 
Indians  dye  excellent  holding  colours  that 
no  raine  nor  washing  can  alter.  Also,  wee 
haue  materials  to  make  Sope-Ashes  and 
Salt-Peter  in  aboundance. 

For  Beasts  there  are  some  Beares,  and 
they  say  some  Lyons  also ;  for  they  haue 
been  seen  at  Cape  Anne.  Also  here  are 
seuerall  sorts  of  Deere,  some  whereof 
bring  three  or  foure  young  ones  at  once, 
which  is  not  ordinarie  in  England.  Also 
Wolues,  Foxes,  Beauers,  Otters,  Martins, 
great  wild  Cats,  &  a  great  Beast  called  a 
Molke  as  bigge  as  an  Oxe.  I  haue  seen 
the  Skins  of  all  these  Beasts  since  I  came 
to  this  Plantation  excepting  Lyons.  Also 
here  are  great  store  of  squerrels,  some 
greater,  and  some  smaller  and  lesser: 
[  95  ]  there 


New-Englands  Plantation 

there  are  some  of  the  lesser  sort,  they 
tell  me,  that  by  a  certaine  Skill  will  fly 
from  Tree  to  Tree  though  they  stand  farre 
distant. 

Of  the  Waters  ^  New-England,  with  the 
things  belonging  to  the  same. 

New-England  hath  Water  enough  both 
salt  and  fresh,  the  greatest  Sea  in  the 
World,  the  Atlanticke  Sea  runs  all  along 
the  Coast  thereof.  There  are  abundance 
of  Hands  along  the  Shore,  some  full  of 
Wood  and  Mast  to  feed  Swine;  and 
others  cleere  of  Wood,  and  fruitfull  to 
beare  Corne.  Also  wee  haue  store  of  ex- 
cellent harbours  for  Ships,  as  at  Cape 
Anne,  and  at  Masathulets  Bay,  and  at 
Salem,  and  at  many  other  places:  and 
they  are  the  better  because  for  Strangers 
there  is  a  verie  difficult  and  dangerous 
passage  into  them,  but  vnto  such  as  are 
well  acquainted  with  them,  they  are  easie 
and  safe  enough.  The  aboundance  of  Sea- 
Fish  are  almost  beyond  beleeuing,  and 
sure  I  should  scarce  haue  beleeued  it, 
except  I  had  scene  it  with  mine  owne 
Eyes.  I  saw  great  store  of  Whales,  and 
Crampusse,  and  such  aboundance  of 
Mackerils  that  it  would  astonish  one  to 
behold,  likewise  Cod-Fish  in  aboundance 
[  96  ]  on 


New-Englands  Plantation 

on  the  Coast,  and  in  their  season  are  plen- 
tifully taken.  There  is  a  Fish  called  a 
Basse,  a  most  sweet  &  wholesome  Fish  as 
euer  I  did  eate,  it  is  altogether  as  good  as 
our  fresh  Sammon,  and  the  season  of 
their  comming  was  begun  when  wee 
came  first  to  New-England  in  June,  and 
so  continued  about  three  months  space. 
Of  this  Fish  our  Fishers  take  many  hun- 
dreds together,  which  I  haue  scene  lying 
on  the  shore  to  my  admiration;  yea  their 
Nets  ordinarily  take  more  then  they  are 
able  to  hale  to  Land,  and  for  want  of 
Boats  and  Men  they  are  constrained  to 
let  a  many  goe  after  they  haue  taken 
them,  and  yet  sometimes  they  fill  two 
Boates  at  a  time  with  them.  And  besides 
Basse  wee  take  plentie  of  Scate  and 
Thornbacks,  and  abundance  of  Lobsters, 
and  the  least  Boy  in  the  Plantation  may 
both  catch  and  eat  what  he  will  of  them. 
For  my  owne  part  I  was  soone  cloyed  with 
them,  they  were  so  great,  and  fat,  and  lus- 
sious.  I  haue  scene  some  my  selfe  that 
haue  weighed  1 6  pound,  but  others  haue 
had  diuers  times  so  great  Lobsters  as  haue 
weighed  25  pound,  as  they  assure  mee. 
Also  heere  is  abundance  of  Herring,  Tur- 
but,Sturgion,  Cuskes,  Hadocks,  Mullets, 
Eeles,  Crabbes,  Muskles  and  Oysters. 
Besides  there  is  probability  that  the 
[  97  ]  Countrey 


New-England*  Plantation 

Countreyisof  an  excellent  temper  for  the 
making  of  Salt :  for  since  our  comming 
our  Fishermen  haue  brought  home  very 
good  Salt  which  they  found  candied  by 
the  standing  of  the  Sea  water  and  the 
heat  of  the  Sunne,  vpon  a  Rocke  by  the 
Sea  shore:  and  in  diuers  salt  Marishes 
that  some  haue  gone  through,  they  haue 
found  some  Salt  in  some  places  crushing 
vnder  their  Feete  and  cleauing  to  their 
Shooes. 

And  as  for  fresh  Water  the  Countrey 
is  full  of  dainty  Springs,  and  some  great 
Riuers,  and  some  lesser  Brookes ;  and  at 
Masatbulets  Bay  they  digged  Wels  and 
found  Water  at  three  Foot  deepe  in  most 
places :  and  neere  Salem  they  haue  as  fine 
cleare  Water  as  we  can  desire,  and  we 
may  digge  Wels  and  find  Water  where 
we  list. 

Thus  wee  see  both  Land  and  Sea 
abound  with  store  of  blessings  for  the 
comfortable  sustenance  of  Man's  life  in 
New-  England. 

Of  the  Aire  of  New-England  'with  the 
temper  and  Creatures  in  it. 

The  Temper  of  the  Aire  of  New-Eng- 
land is  one  speciall  thing  that  commends 
this  place.    Experience   doth    manifest 
[  98  ]  that 


New-Englands  Plantation 

that  there  is  hardly  a  more  healthfull 
place  to  be  found  in  the  World  that 
agreeth  better  with  our  English  bodyes. 
Many  that  haue  beene  weake  and  sickly 
in  old  England,  by  comming  hither  haue 
beene  thoroughly  healed  and  growne 
healthfull  strong.  For  here  is  an  extra- 
ordinarie  cleere  and  dry  Aire  that  is  of 
a  most  healing  nature  to  all  such  as  are 
of  a  Cold,  Melancholy,  Flegmatick, 
Rheumatick  temper  of  Body.  None  can 
more  truly  speake  hereof  by  their  owne 
experience  then  my  selfe.  My  Friends 
that  knew  me  can  well  tell  how  verie 
sickly  I  haue  bin  and  continually  in 
Physick,  being  much  troubled  with  a 
tormenting  paine  through  an  extraordi- 
narie  weaknesse  of  my  Stomacke,  and 
aboundance  of  Melancholicke  humors ; 
but  since  I  came  hither  on  this  Voyage, 
I  thanke  God,  I  haue  had  perfect  health, 
and  freed  from  paine  and  vomiting,  hau- 
ing  a  Stomacke  to  digest  the  hardest  and 
coursest  fare,  who  before  could  not  eat 
finest  meat;  and  whereas  my  Stomacke 
could  onely  digest  and  did  require  such 
drinke  as  was  both  strong  and  stale,  now 
I  can  and  doe  often  times  drink  New- 
England  water  verie  well ;  and  I  that 
haue  not  gone  without  a  Cap  for  many 
yeeres  together,  neither  durst  leaue  off 
[  99  ]  the 


New-Englands  Plantation 

the  same,  haue  now  cast  away  my  Cap, 
and  doe  weare  none  at  all  in  the  day 
time:  and  whereas  beforetime  I  cloathed 
my  selfe  with  double  cloathes  and  thicke 
Wastcoates  to  keepe  me  warme,  euen  in 
the  Summer  time,  I  doe  now  goe  as  thin 
clad  as  any,  onely  wearing  a  light  Stuffe 
Cassocke  vpon  my  Shirt,  and  Stuffe 
Breeches  of  one  thicknesse  without  Lin- 
ings. Besides  I  haue  one  of  my  Children 
that  was  formerly  most  lamentably  han- 
dled with  sore  breaking  out  of  both  his 
hands  and  feet  of  the  King's-euill,  but 
since  he  came  hither  hee  is  very  well  ouer 
he  was,  and  there  is  hope  of  perfect  re- 
couerie  shortly  euen  by  the  very  whole- 
somnesse  of  the  Aire,  altering,  digesting 
and  drying  vp  the  cold  and  crude  hum- 
ours of  the  Body :  and  therefore  I  thinke 
it  is  a  wise  course  for  al  cold  complec- 
tions  to  come  to  take  Physick  in  New 
England:  for  a  sup  of  New- England's  Aire 
is  better  then  a  whole  draught  of  old 
England's  Ale.  In  the  Summer  time  in 
the  midst  ofjuty  and  August,  it  is  a  good 
deale  hotter  then  in  old  England:  and  in 
Winter  January  and  February  are  much 
colder  as  they  say:  but  the  Spring  and 
Autumne  are  of  a  middle  temper. 

Fowles  of  the  Aire  are  plentifull  here, 

and  of  all  sorts  as  we  haue  in  England  as 

[   100  ]  farre 


New-Englands  Plantation 

farre  as  I  can  learne,  and  a  great  many  of 
strange  Fowles  which  wee  know  not. 
Whilst  I  was  writing  these  things,  one  of 
our  Men  brought  home  an  Eagle  which 
hee  had  killed  in  the  Wood :  they  say 
they  are  good  meate.  Also  here  are  many 
kinds  of  excellent  Hawkes,  both  Sea 
Hawkes  &  Land  Hawkes:  and  myselfe 
walking  in  the  Woods  with  another  in 
company,  sprung  a  Partridge  so  bigge 
that  through  the  heauinesse  of  his  Body 
could  fly  but  a  little  way :  they  that  haue 
killed  them,  say  they  are  as  bigge  as  our 
Hens.  Here  are  likewise  aboundance  of 
Turkies  often  killed  in  the  Woods,  farre 
greater  then  our  English  Turkies,  and  ex- 
ceeding fat,  sweet  and  fleshy,  for  here  they 
haue  aboundance  of  feeding  all  theyeere 
long,  as  Strawberries,  in  Summer  all  places 
are  full  of  them,  and  all  manner  of  Berries 
and  Fruits.  In  the  Winter  time  I  haue 
scene  Flockes  of  Pidgeons,and  haue  eaten 
of  them:  they  doe  fly  from  Tree  to  Tree 
as  other  Birds  doe,  which  our  Pidgeons 
will  not  doe  in  England:  they  are  of  all 
colours  as  ours  are,  but  their  wings  and 
tayles  are  far  longer,  and  therefore  it  is 
likely  they  fly  swifter  to  escape  the  terri- 
ble Hawkes  in  this  Country.  In  Winter 
time  this  Country  doth  abound  with  wild 
Geese,  wild  Duckes,  and  other  Sea  Fowle, 
[  1 01  ]  that 


New-Englands  Plantation 

that  a  great  part  of  winter  the  Planters 
haue  eaten  nothing  but  roast  rneate  of 
diuers  Fowles  which  they  haue  killed. 

Thus  you  haue  heard  of  the  Earth, 
Water  and  Aire  of  New-England,  now  it 
may  bee  you  expect  something  to  bee  said 
of  the  Fire  proportionable  to  the  rest  of 
the  Elements.  Indeede  I  thinke  New- 
England,  may  boast  of  this  Element  more 
then  of  all  the  rest:  for  though  it  bee  here 
somewhat  cold  in  the  winter,  yet  here  we 
haue  plenty  of  Fire  to  warme  vs,  and  that 
a  great  deale  cheaper  then  they  sel  Billets 
and  Faggots  in  London:  nay,  all  Europe  is 
not  able  to  afford  to  make  so  great  Fires 
as  New-England.  A  poore  seruant  here 
that  is  to  possesse  but  50  Acres  of  Land, 
may  afford  to  giue  more  wood  for  Timber 
&  Fire  as  good  as  the  world  yeelds,  then 
many  Noble  men  in  England  can  afford 
to  do.  Here  is  good  liuing  for  those  that 
loue  good  Fires.  And  although  New- 
Eng/andhaue  no  Tallow  to  make  Candles 
of,  yet  by  the  aboundance  of  the  Fish 
thereof,  it  can  afford  Oyle  for  Lampes. 
Yea  our  Pine-Trees  that  are  the  most 
plentifull  of  all  wood,  doth  allow  vs  plenty 
of  Candles  which  are  very  vsefull  in  a 
House:  and  they  are  such  Candles  as  the 
Indians  commonly  vse,  hauing  no  other, 
and  they  are  nothing  else  but  the  wood  of 
[  102  ]  the 


New-Englands  Plantation 

the  Pine  Tree  clouen  in  two  little  slices 
something  thin,  which  are  so  full  of  the 
moysture  of  Turpentine  and  Pitch,  that 
they  burne  as  cleere  as  a  Torch.  I  haue 
sent  you  some  of  them  that  you  may  see 
the  experience  of  them. 

Thus  of  New- England' s  commodities, 
now  I  will  tell  you  of  some  discommodi- 
ties that  are  here  to  be  found. 

First,  in  the  Summer  season  for  these 
three  months,  June,  Jufy,znd  August,  we 
are  troubled  much  with  little  Flyes  called 
Musketoes,  being  the  same  they  are 
troubled  with  in  Lincolneshiere  and  the 
Fens:  and  they  are  nothing  but  Gnats, 
which  except  they  bee  smoked  out  of 
their  houses  are  troublesome  in  the  night 
season. 

Secondly,  in  the  Winter  season  for  two 
months  space,  the  earth  is  commonly  cou- 
ered  with  Snow,  which  is  accompanied 
with  sharp  biting  Frosts,  something  more 
sharpe  then  is  in  old  England,  and  there- 
fore are  forced  to  make  great  Fires. 

Thirdly,  the  countrey  being  very  full 
of  Woods,  and  Wildernesses,  doth  also 
much  abound  with  Snakes  and  Serpents 
of  strange  colours,  and  huge  greatnesse: 
yea  there  are  some  Serpents  called  Rattle- 
snakes that  haue  Rattles  in  their  Tailes, 
that  will  not  fly  from  a  man  as  others  will, 
f  103  ]  but 


New-Englands  Plantation 

but  will  flye  vpon  him  and  sting  him  so 
mortally,  that  hee  will  dye  within  a  quar- 
ter of  an  houre  after,  except  the  partie 
stinged  haue  about  him  some  of  the  root 
of  an  Hearbe  called  Snake- weed  to  bite 
on,  and  then  hee  shall  receiue  no  harme: 
but  yet  seldomefalles  it  out  that  any  hurt 
is  done  by  these.  About  three  yeares  since, 
an  Indian  was  stung  to  death  by  one  of 
them,  but  wee  heard  of  none  since  that 
time. 

Fourthly  and  lastly,  Here  wants  as  it 
were  good  company  of  honest  Christians 
to  bring  with  them  Horses,  Kine  and 
Sheepe  to  make  vseofthis  fruitfull  Land : 
great  pitty  it  is  to  see  so  much  good  ground 
for  Corne  &  for  Grasse  as  any  is  vnder  the 
Heauens,  to  ly  altogether  vnoccupied, 
when  so  many  honest  Men  and  their  Fam- 
ilies in  old  England  through  the  populous- 
nesse  thereof,  do  make  very  hard  shift  to 
Hue  one  by  the  other. 

Now,  thus  you  know  what  New-Eng- 
land is,  as  also  with  the  commodities  and 
discommodities  thereof:  now  I  will  shew 
you  a  little  of  the  Inhabitants  thereof,  and 
their  gouernment. 

For  their  Gouernors  they  haue  Kings, 

which  they  call  Saggamores,  some  greater, 

and  some  lesser,  according  to  the  number 

[   i 04  ]  of 


New-Englands  Plantation 

of  their  Subjects. 

The  greatest  Saggamores  about  vs  can 
not  make  aboue  three  hundred  Men,  and 
other  lesse  Saggamores  haue  not  aboue  fif- 
teene  Subjects,  and  others  neere  about  vs 
but  two. 

Their  Subjects  aboue  twelue  yeares 
since  were  swept  away  by  a  great  &  grieu- 
ous  Plague  that  was  amongst  them,  so  that 
there  are  verie  few  left  to  inhabite  the 
Country. 

The  Indians  are  not  able  to  make  vse 
of  the  one  fourth  part  of  the  Land,  neither 
haue  they  any  setled  places,  as  Townes  to 
dwell  in,  nor  any  ground  as  they  challenge 
for  their  o  wne  possession,  but  change  their 
habitation  from  place  to  place. 

For  their  Statures,  they  are  a  tall  and 
strong  limmed  People,  their  colours  are 
tawny,  they  goe  naked,  saue  onely  they 
are  in  part  couered  with  Beasts  Skins  on 
one  of  their  shoulders,  and  weare  some- 
thing before  their  priuities :  their  Haire 
is  generally  blacke,  and  cut  before  like 
our  Gentelewomen,  and  one  locke  longer 
then  the  rest,  much  like  to  our  Gentel- 
men,  which  fashion  I  thinke  came  from 
hence  into  England. 

For  their  weapons,  they  haue  Bows 

and  Arrowes,  some  of  them  headed  with 

Bone,  and  some  with  Brasse :  I  haue  sent 

[   105  ]  you 


New-Englands  Plantation 

you  some  of  them  for  an  example. 

The  Men  for  the  most  part  Hue  idely, 
they  doe  nothing  but  hunt  and  fish :  their 
wiues  set  their  Corne  and  doe  all  their 
other  worke.  They  haue  little  Houshold 
stufFe,  as  a  kettle,  and  some  other  Ves- 
sels like  Trayes,  Spoones,  Dishes  and  Bas- 
kets. 

Their  Houses  are  verie  little  and 
homely,  being  made  with  small  Poles 
pricked  into  the  ground,  and  so  bended 
and  fastned  at  the  tops,  and  on  the  sides 
they  are  matted  with  Boughes  and  cou- 
ered  on  the  Roofe  with  Sedge  and  old 
Mats,  and  for  their  beds  that  they  take 
their  rest  on,  they  haue  a  Mat. 

They  doe  generally  professe  to  like 
well  of  our  comming  and  planting  here ; 
partly  because  there  is  abundance  of 
ground  that  they  cannot  possesse  nor  make 
vse  of,  and  partly  because  our  being  heere 
will  bee  a  meanes  both  of  reliefe  to  them 
when  they  want,  and  also  a  defence  from 
their  Enemies,  wherewith  (I  say)  before 
this  Plantation  began,  they  were  often 
indangered. 

For  their  religion,  they  doe  worship 
two  Gods,  a  good  God  and  an  euill  God : 
the  good  God  they  call  Tantum,  and  their 
euill  God  whom  they  feare  will  doe  them 
hurt,  they  call  Squantum. 

[  106  ]  For 


New-Englands  Plantation 

For  their  dealing  with  vs,  we  neither 
feare  them  nor  trust  them,  for  fourtie  of 
our  Musketeer es  will  driue  fiue  hundred 
of  them  out  of  the  Field.  We  vse  them 
kindly,  they  will  come  into  our  Houses 
sometimes  by  halfe  a  douzen  or  halfe  a 
score  at  a  time  when  we  are  at  victuals, 
but  will  aske  or  take  nothing  but  what  we 
giue  them. 

We  purpose  to  learne  their  language 
assoone  as  we  can,  which  will  beameanes 
to  do  them  good. 

Of  the  present  condition  of  the  Plant ation9 
and  what  it  is. 

When  we  came  first  to  Nehumkek,  we 
found  about  halfe  a  score  Houses,  and  a 
faire  House  newly  built  for  the  Gou- 
ernor,  we  found  also  aboundance  of 
Corne  planted  by  them,  very  good  and 
well  liking.  And  we  brought  with  vs 
about  two  hundred  Passengers  and  Plant- 
ers more,  which  by  common  consent  of 
the  old  Planters  were  all  combined  to- 
gether into  one  Body  Politicke,  vnder  the 
same  Gouernor. 

There  are  in  all  of  vs  both  old  and  new 

Planters  about  three  hundred,  whereof 

two  hundred  of  them  are  setled  ztNehum- 

kek9  now  called  Salem:  And  the  rest  haue 

[   107  ]  planted 


New-Englands  Plantation 

planted  themselues  at  Masathulets  Bay, 
beginning  to  build  a  Towne  there  which 
wee  doe  call  Cberton,  or  Charles  Towne. 

We  that  are  setled  at  Salem  make  what 
haste  we  can  to  build  Houses,  so  that 
within  a  short  time  we  shall  haue  a  faire 
Towne. 

We  haue  great  Ordnance,  wherewith 
wee  doubt  not  but  wee  shall  fortifie  our 
selues  in  a  short  time  to  keepe  out  a  potent 
Aduersary.  But  that  which  is  our  great- 
est comfort,  and  meanes  of  defence  aboue 
all  other,  is,  that  we  haue  here  the  true 
Religion  and  holy  Ordinances  of  Al- 
mightie  God  taught  amongst  vs :  Thankes 
be  to  God,  wee  haue  here  plenty  of 
Preaching,  and  diligent  Catechizing, 
with  strickt  and  carefull  exercise,  and 
good  and  commendable  orders  to  bring 
our  People  into  a  Christian  conuersation 
with  whom  wee  haue  to  doe  withall. 
And  thus  wee  doubt  not  but  God  will  be 
with  vs,  and  if  God  be  with  us,  who  can  be 
against  us  ? 

Here  ends  Master  Higgesons  Relation  of 
New-England. 


[  108  ] 


A  Letter  sent  from  New-England, 

by  Master  Graues,  Engynere 

now  there  resident. 

Hus  much  I  can  affirme  in 
generall,  that  I  neuer  came  in  a 
more  goodly  Country  in  all  my 
life,  all  things  considered :  if 
it  hath  not  at  any  time  beene  manured  and 
husbanded,  yet  it  is  very  beautifull  in 
open  Lands,  mixed  with  goodly  woods, 
and  againe  open  plaines,  in  some  places 
five  hundred  Acres,  some  places  more, 
some  lesse,  not  much  troublesome  for  to 
cleere  for  the  Plough  to  goe  in,  no  place 
barren,  but  on  the  tops  of  the  Hils ;  the 
grasse  &  weedes  grow  vp  to  a  man's  face, 
in  the  Lowlands  Stbyfresh  Riuers  abound- 
ance  of  grasse  and  large  Meddowes  with- 
out any  Tree  or  shrubbe  to  hinder  the  Sith. 
I  neuer  saw  except  in  Hungaria,  vnto 
which  I  alwayes  paralell  this  countrie,  in 
all  our  most  respects,  foreuery  thing  that 
is  heere  eyther  sowne  or  planted  prosper- 
eth  far  better  then  in  old  England:  the 
increase  of  Corne  is  here  farre  beyond  ex- 
pectation, as  I  haue  scene  hereby  experi- 
ence in  Early,  the  which  because  it  is  so 
much  aboue  your  conception  I  will  not 
mention.  And  Cattle  doe  prosper  very 
[  109  ]  well 


New-Englands  Plantation 

well,  and  those  that  are  bredd  here  farr 
greater  then  those  with  you  in  England. 
Vines  doe  grow  here  plentifully  laden 
with  the  biggest  Grapes  that  euer  I  saw, 
some  I  haue  scene  foure  inches  about,  so 
that  I  am  bold  to  say  of  this  countrie,  as 
it  is  commonly  said  in  Germany  of  Hun- 
garia,  that  for  Cattel,  Corne,  and  Wine  it 
excelleth.  We  haue  many  more  hopefull 
commodities  here  in  this  countrie,  the 
which  time  will  teach  to  make  good  vse 
of:  In  the  meane  time  wee  abound  with 
such  things  which  next  vnder  God  doe 
make  vs  subsist,  as  Fish,  Foule,  Deere, 
and  sundrie  sorts  of  fruits,  as  musk-mil- 
lions water-millions,  India-Pompions,  In- 
dian-Pease Beanes,  &  many  other  odde 
fruits  that  I  cannot  name ;  all  which  are 
made  good  and  pleasant  through  this 
maine  blessing  of  God,  the  healthfulnesse 
of  the  countrie  which  far  exceedeth  all 
parts  that  euer  I  haue  beene  in :  It  is  ob- 
serued  that  few  or  none  doe  here  fal  sicke, 
vnless  of  the  Scuruy  that  they  bring  from 
aboard  the  Ship  with  them,  whereof  I 
haue  cured  some  of  my  companie  onely 
by  labour.  [Thus  making  an  end  of  an 
imperfect  Description,  and  committing 
you  to  God,  &c. 


A  Catalogue  of  such  needefull 
things  as  euery  Planter  doth  or 
ought  to  prouide  to  go  to  New- 
England 

as  namely  for  one  man,  which  being 
doubled,  may  serue  for  as  many  as 
you  please,  viz. 

Victuals  for  a  whole  yeere  for  a  man, 
and  so  after  the  rate  for  more. 

8  Bvshels  of  meale.        i  Gallon  of  Oyle. 

2  Bushels  of  pease.        2  Gallons  of  Vinegar. 
1  Bushels  of  Otemeale.  i  Firkin  of  Butter. 

i  Gallon  of  Aquavit*. 

Apparell. 
i  Monmoth  Cap.  4  Paire  of  Sbooes. 

3  Falling  bands.  2  Paire  of  Sheets. 

3  Shirts.  7  Ells   of  Canuas   to 

i  Wast-coat.  make  a  bed  and  boul- 

i  Suit  of  Canuase.  ster. 

i  Suit  of  Prize.  i  Paire  of  Blankets. 

i  Suit  of  Cloth.  i  Course  Rug. 

3  Paire  of  Stockings. 

Armes. 

i  Armor  compleat.         i  Bandilier. 
i  Long  peece.  20  Pound  of  Powder. 

i  Sword.  60  Pound  of  Lead. 

i  Belt.  i  Pistoll  and  Goose  shot. 

Tooles. 

i  Broad  Howe.  i  Broad  Axe. 

i  Narrow  Howe.          i  Felling  Axe. 


New-Englands  Plantation 

Steele  Handsawe.  i  Gimblet. 

Whipsawe.  i  Hatchet. 

Hammer.  2  Frowes. 

Shouell  i  Hand-Bill. 

Spade.  i  Grindstone. 

1  Augres.  i  Pickaxe. 

4  Chissels.  Nayles  of  all  sorts. 

2  Percers  stocked. 

Houshold  implements. 
i  Iron  pot.  i  Spit. 

i  Kettel.  Wooden  Platters. 

i  Frying  pan.  Dishes. 

1  Gridiron.  Spoons. 

2  Skellets.  Trenchers. 

Spices. 

Sugar.  Cinnamon. 

Pepper.  Nutmegs. 

Clones.  Fruit. 

Mace. 

Also  there  are  diuers  other  things  neces- 
sary to  bee  taken  ouer  to  this  Plantation, 
as  Bookes,  Nets,  Hookes  and  Lines, 
Cheese,  Bacon,  Kine,  Goats,  &c. 


The  names  of  the  most  remark- 
able places  in  New-England. 


The  old  names. 
Cape  Cod. 
The  Harbor  of  Cape 

Cod. 

Cbawum. 
Accomack. 
Sagoquas. 

Massacbusets  Mount. 
Massacbusets  Riuer. 
Totan. 
A  great  Bay  by  Cape 

Anne. 

Cape  Tragabig  sanda. 
Naembeck. 


Aggawom. 
Smiths  lies. 
Passasaquack. 
Accominticus. 
Sassanows  Mount. 
Sowocatuck. 
Bahanna. 

A  good  Harbor  with- 
in that  Bay. 
Ancociscos  Mount. 
Ancocisco. 
Anmougbcawgen. 
Kenebecka. 
Sagadabock. 


The  new  names. 
Cape  lames. 
Milford  Hauen. 

Barwick. 

Plimoutb. 

Oxford. 

Cbeuit  Hils. 

Cbarles  River. 

Famoutb. 

Bristow. 

Cape  Anne. 

Bast  able  ^  so  named  by 
King  Charles:  But 
by  the  new  Planters 
now  called  Salem. 

Southampton. 

Smiths  lies. 

Hull. 

Boston. 

Snow  don  hill. 

Ipswich. 

Dartmouth. 

Sandwich. 

Shuters  hill. 
The  Base. 
Cambridge. 
Edenborow. 
Leth. 

3  J 


Neiv-Englands  Plantation 


Pemmayquid. 

Segocket. 

Mecadacut. 

Pennobscot. 

Nusket. 

Monahigan. 

Matinack. 

Metinacus. 


S.  Johns  towne. 
Norwich. 
Dunbarton. 
Aberden. 
Low  mounds. 
Ear  ties  lies. 
Willowbies  lies. 
H aught ons  lies. 


But  whosoeuer  desireth  to  know  as  much 
as  yet  can  be  discouered,  I  aduise  them 
to  buy  Captaine  John  Smiths  booke  of 
the  description  of  New-England  m  Folio ; 
and  reade  from  Fol.  203.  to  the  end;  and 
there  let  the  Reader  expect  to  haue  full 
content. 


Finis. 


SOME  BRIEF  COLLECTIONS 
&c. 


SOME   BRIEF  COL- 

lections  out  of  a  letter  that 
Mr.  Higginson  sent  to  his 
friends  at  Leicester. 

HERE  are  certainly 
expected  here  the  next 
spring  the  coming  of 
60  familyes  out  Dor- 
cettershire,5  who  have 
by  letters  signified  so 
much  to  the  Gov- 
erour  to  desyre  him  to  appoint  them 
places  of  habitations  they  bringing  their 
ministers  with  them.  Also  many  fami- 
lies are  expected  out  of  Lincolnshire6 
and  a  minister  with  them,  and  a  great 
company  of  godly  Christians  out  of  Lon- 
don. Such  of  you  as  come  from  Leister, 
I  would  counsell  you  to  come  quickly 
and  that  for  two  reasons,  ist,  if  you  lin- 
ger too  long,  the  passages  of  Jordan 
through  the  malice  of  Sathan,  may  be 
stopped,  that  you  can  not  come  if  you 
[  117  ]  would. 


New- England*  Plantation 

would.  2dly,  Those  that  come  first  speed 
best  here,and  have  the  priviledge  of  choos- 
ing choice  places  of  habitations.  Little 
children  of  5  years  ould  may  by  setting 
corne  one  month  be  able  to  get  their  owne 
maintenance  abundantly.  Oh  what  a 
good  worke  might  you  that  are  rich  do 
for  your  poore  brethren,  to  helpe  them 
with  your  purses  onely  to  convey  them 
hither  with  their  children  and  families, 
where  they  may  live  as  well  both  for  soule 
and  body  as  any  where  in  the  world.  Be- 
sides they  will  recompense  the  cost  by 
helping  to  build  houses  and  plant  your 
ground  for  a  tyme ;  which  shall  be  diffi- 
cult worke  at  the  first,  exceptyou  have  the 
helpe  of  many  hands.  Mr.  Johnson  out 
of  Lincolnshire  and  many  others,  have 
helped  our  godly  christians  hither  to  be 
employed  in  their  worke,  for  a  while,  and 
then  to  live  of  themselves.  We  have  here 
about  40  goats  that  give  milke,  and  as  many 
milch  kyne ;  we  have  6  or  7  mares  and  an 
horse,  and  do  every  day  expect  the  com- 
ing of  half  a  score  mares  more,  and3oKyne 
by  two  shipps  that  are  to  follow  us.7  They 
that  come  let  them  bring  mares,  kyne, 
and  sheepe  as  many  as  they  can :  Ireland 
is  the  best  place  to  provide  sheepe,  and  lyes 
in  the  way.  Bring  none  that  are  in  lambe, 
nor  mares  in  foale;  for  they  are  in  more 
[  118  ]  danger 


New-Englands  Plantation 

danger  to  perish  at  sea.  Of  all  trades  car- 
penters are  most  needful,  therefore  bring 
as  many  as  you  can.  It  were  a  wise  course 
for  those  of  ability es  to  joyne  together  and 
buy  a  shipp  for  the  voyage  and  other  mer- 
chandize. For  the  governour  would  that 
any  man  may  employ  his  stocke  in  what 
merchandises  he  please,  excepting  only 
beaver  skins,  which  the  company  of  mer- 
chants reserve  to  themselves,  and  the  man- 
aging of  the  publique  stocke.  If  any  be 
of  the  mynde  to  buy  a  shipp  my  cousin 
Nowell's8  counsell  would  be  good.  Also 
one  Mr.  [Beecher]  a  very  godly  man  and 
the  master  of  the  ship  we  went  in,  and 
likewise  one  Mr.  Graves  the  master's 
maite  dwelling  in  Wapping  may  herein 
staund  you  in  stead.  The  payment  of  the 
transportation  of  things  is  wondrous  deare, 
as  5/  a  man  and  i  o/  a  horse  and  commonly 
3/  for  every  tunne  of  goodes :  so  that  a  lit- 
tle more  than  will  pay  for  the  passage  will 
purchase  the  possession  of  a  ship  for  all 
together. 

No  man  hath  or  can  have  a  house 
built  for  him  here  unlesse  he  comes  him- 
selfe,  or  else  send  servants  before  to  do  it 
for  him.  It  was  an  errour  that  I  now  per- 
ceive both  in  myselfe,  and  others  did  con- 
ceive by  not  rightly  understanding  the 
merchaunts  meaning.  For  we  thought 
[119]  that 


New-Englands  Plantation 

that  all  that  put  in  their  money  into  the 
common  stocke;  should  have  a  house 
built  for  them,  besides  such  a  portion  of 
the  land;  but  it  was  not  so.  They  shall 
indeed  have  so  much  land  allotted  to 
them  when  they  come  to  take  possession 
of  it  and  make  use  of  it,  but  if  they  will 
have  houses  they  must  build  them.  In- 
deed we  that  are  ministers,  and  all  the 
rest  that  were  entertained  and  sent  over 
and  maintained  by  the  rest  of  the  com- 
pany, as  their  servants,  for  such  a  tyme 
in  such  employments,  all  such  are  to 
have  houses  built  them  of  the  comyan- 
ies  charge  and  no  others  nor  otherwise. 
They  that  put  money  into  the  stocke, 
as  they  do  a  good  worke  to  helpe  for- 
wards so  worthy  a  plantation,  so  all  the 
gayne  they  are  likely  to  have,  is  accord- 
ing to  the  increase  of  the  stocke  at  3 
years  end,  by  the  trade  of  beaver,  besides 
the  lands  which  they  shall  enjoy  when 
they  will. 

All  that  come  must  have  victualls  with 
them  for  a  twelve  month,  I  meane  they 
must  have  meale,  oatmeale  and  such  like 
sustenaunce  of  food,  till  they  can  gett 
increase  of  corne  by  their  owne  labour. 
For,  otherwise,  so  many  may  come  with- 
out provision  at  the  first,  as  that  our  small 
beginnings  may  not  be  sufficient  to  main- 
[  120  ]  tayne 


New-England*  Plantation 

tayne  them. 

Before  you  come  be  carefull  to  be 
strongly  instructed  what  things  are  fittest 
to  bring  with  you  for  your  more  comfort- 
able passage  at  sea,  as  also  for  your  hus- 
bandrey  occasions  when  you  come  to  the 
land.  For  when  you  are  once  parted  with 
England  you  shall  meete  neither  with 
taverns  nor  alehouse,  nor  butchers,  nor 
grosers,  nor  apothecaries  shops  to  helpp 
what  things  you  need,  in  the  midst  of  the 
great  ocean,  nor  when  you  are  come  to 
land  here  are  yet  neither  markets  nor 
fayres  to  buy  what  you  want.  Therefore 
be  sure  to  furnish  yourselves  with  things 
fitting  to  be  had  before  you  come ;  as 
meale  for  bread,  malt  for  drinke,  woolen 
and  linnen  cloath,  and  leather  for  shoes, 
and  all  manner  of  carpenters  tools,  and  a 
good  deale  of  iron  and  steele  to  make 
nails,  and  lockes,  for  houses,  and  furni- 
ture for  ploughs  and  carts,  and  glasse  for 
windowes,  and  many  other  things  which 
were  better  for  you  to  think  of  them 
than  to  want  them  here. 

Whilst  I  was  writing  this  letter  my 
wiffe  brought  me  word  that  the  fishers 
had  caught  1600  basse  at  one  draught, 
which  if  they  were  in  England  were 
worth  many  a  pound. 


NOTES 


NOTES. 

1.  Thomas    Hutchinson,    the    historian    of 
Massachusetts,  attributed  this  document  to 
Francis  Higginson,  but  Alexander  Young 
and  Robert  C.  Winthrop  have  shown  that 
another  draft  of  these  "  Considerations," 
in  the  handwriting  of  Forth  Winthrop,  and 
now  preserved  in  the  Winthrop   Papers, 
was  probably  inspired  by  John  Winthrop. 
Another  copy  in  the  English  State  Paper 
Office  is  endorsed  "White  of  Dorchester 
his  instructions  for  the  plantation  of  New 
England." 

2.  Quote,  i.  e.  quost,  an  obsolete  spelling  of 
coast. 

3.  The  manuscript  now  in  the  library  of  the 
Massachusetts  Historical  Society,  ends  at 
this  point,  the  following  pages  having  been 
lost  since  it  was  in  the  possession  of  Hutchin- 
son. The  remainder  of  the  journal  of  the 
voyage  is   reprinted    from    Hutchinson's 
"Collection  of  Original  Papers  relative  to 
the  History  of  the  Colony  of  M  assachusetts 
Bay,"  Boston,  1769. 

4.  Gloucester  harbor. 

5.  These   were   the  settlers  who  came  with 
Maverick. 

6.  The  emigrants  from  Boston,  England. 

7.  The  "Four  Sisters  "and  the  "Mayflower." 

8.  I ncrease  Norwell,  afterward  Secretary  of  the 
Colony. 


INDEX 


INDEX 


Aberden,  114. 
Accomack,  113. 
Accomintus,  113. 
Aggawom,  113. 
Air  of  New  England,  29,98 
Ancocisco,  113. 
Ancociscos  Mount,  113. 
Anmoughcawgen,  113. 
Ash  trees,  26,  95. 
Assurance  (ship),  62. 

Bahanna,  113. 

Barley,  109. 

Barties  Isles,  1 14. 

Bar  wick,  113. 

Bass,  27,  97. 

Bastable,  113. 

Beans,  1 10. 

Bears,  26,  95. 

Beavers,  26,  95,  119. 

Beech  trees,  26,  95. 

Beecher,  Mr.,  63,  119. 

Berries,  25,  94. 

Birch  trees,  26,  95. 

Birds,  31,  loo. 

Biscay  ship,  65. 

Black,  Goodman,  76. 

Boats,  Fishing,  28,  97. 

Borley,  Capt.,  64. 

Boston,  113. 

Boston  (Eng. ),  125. 

Bows  and  arrows,  35,  105. 

Brass,  35,  105. 

Bricks,  23,  91. 

Bright,  Francis,  53,  54. 

Bristow  Bay,  113. 


Brookelime,  25,  94. 
Browne,  Mr.,  65. 
Butter,  in. 

Cambridge,  113. 
Candles,  32,  102. 
Cannon,  37,  60,  1 08. 
Cape  Ann,  26,  77,  78,  79, 

95>  US- 
Cape  Cod,  113. 
Cape  James,  113. 
Cape  Tragabig  sanda,  113. 
Carrots,  25,  93. 
Carvel,  25,  94. 
Cattle,  23,34,  60,92,  104, 

109,  118. 

Cedar  trees,  26,  95. 
Charles  I,  6. 

Charles  River,  22,  90,  113. 
Charlestown,  37,  108. 
Chawum,  113. 
Cherries,  26,  94. 
Cherton,  37,  108. 
Chestnuts,  25,  94. 
Chevit  hills,  113. 
Christopher  Islands,  65. 
Churches  of  Europe,  4 1 . 
Claybrook  Parish  (Eng. ),  6. 
Cloth,  25,  94. 
Clothing  for  New  England, 

30,  100,  in. 
Codfish,  27,  96. 
Cordage,  25,  94. 
Corn,  23,  35,  36,  92,  107, 

109,  1 1 8,  1 20. 
Cornwall  (Eng.),  64. 


29 


INDEX 


Cowcastle  (Eng. ),  62. 
Cowes  (Eng.),  63. 
Crabs,  28,  97. 
Cucumbers,  25,  94. 
Currants,  25,  94. 
Cush,  28,  97. 
Cypress  trees,  26,  95. 

Dartmouth  (Eng. ),  113. 


Goats,  23,  60,  92,  1 1 8. 
Gods,  Indian,  36,  106. 
Goffe,  Mr.,  69. 
Gooseberries,  78. 
Governor's  house,  36,  107. 
Grain,  25,  93. 
Grampus,  27,  96. 
Grapes,  25,  94,  no. 
Grass,  23,  92. 


Death  of  child,  66,  76  ;  of    Graves,  Mr.,  109,  119. 


sailor,  75. 
Deer,  26,  27,  95,  96. 
Dog  fell  overboard,  69. 
Dorchester  (Eng.),  59,  60, 

117. 

Ducks,  31,  101. 
Dunbarton,  114. 
Dye  stuffs,  26,  95. 

Eagle,  31,  101. 
Edenborow,  113. 
Education,  41. 
Eels,  28,  97. 
Endecott,  Gov.,  5,  79. 

Falmouth,  113. 

Fast  kept,  67,  71. 

Filberts,  25,  94. 

Files,  23,  91. 

Fir  trees,  26,  95. 

Fires  in  New  England,  32, 

IO2. 

Fish,  27,  96,  I2i. 
Fishing  nets,  28,  97. 
Force,  Peter,  8. 
Four  Sisters  (ship),  60,  125. 
Foxes,  26,  95. 

Geese,  31,  101. 

George  (ship),  60,  79. 
Gibs,  Mr.,  66. 
Gloucester,  125. 
Gnats,  33,  103. 


Gravesend  (Eng.),  6l. 
Gum,  26,  95. 

Haddock,  28,  97. 
Harbors,  27,  96. 
Haughton's  Isles,  114. 
Hawkes,  31,  101. 
Health  in  New  England,  29, 

99- 

Herbs,  25,  94. 

Herring,  28,  97. 

Higginson,  Rev.  Francis,  5- 
n,  54,  117,  125;  fam- 
ily of,  7  ;  health  of,  29, 
8 1,  99;  sickness  of  child, 
30,  65,  100  ;  agreement 
with,  51;  sea  journal  of, 
57  ;  sails  from  England, 
59  ;  death  of  child,  66  ; 
lands  at  Neihumkek,  79  ; 
seasickness  of  wife,  8 1  ; 
letter  to  friends  at  Leices- 
ter, 117. 

Higginson,  Mary,  63,  65. 

Higginson,  Samuel,  65, 
68. 

Hogs,  23,  27,  92,  96. 

Horses,  23,  34,  60,  92, 
104,  1 1 8,  119. 

Household  implements,  112. 

Houses,  119. 

Houses  of  Indians,  35,  106. 

Hull,  113. 


[  130] 


INDEX 


Hungaria,  109,  1 10. 
Hutchinson,  Gov.  Thomas, 
n,  125. 

Iceberg,  72. 

Indians,  purchase  corn,  24, 
93;  dyes  used  by,  26, 
95  ;  lights  used  by,  32, 
1 02  ;  killed  by  a  rattle- 
snake, 33,  104;  Saga- 
mores of,  34,  1 04;  num- 
ber of,  34,  195  ;  de- 
stroyed by  the  plague,  34, 
47,  105  ;  unable  to  use 
all  the  land,  34,  105; 
have  no  settled  places,  34, 
105;  personal  appearance, 
35,  105;  clothing,  35, 
105  ;  weapons,  35,  105; 
utensils,  35,  106  ;  houses, 
35,  1 06;  approve  coming 
of  Englishmen,  35,  106; 
religion,  36,  106;  lan- 
guage, 36,  107;  title  to 
land,  46 ;  place  names, 

113- 

Ipswich,  113. 
Isle  of  Wight,  62. 

Johnson,  Mr.,  1 18. 
Juniper  trees,  26,  95. 

Kenebecka,  113. 

Land,  abundance  of,  34,  35, 

104,  106. 
Leather,  26,  95. 
Leeks,  25,  94. 
Leicester  (Eng.),  6,   117. 
Leith,  113. 
Lincoln  shire   (  Eng . ) ,    117, 

118. 
Lions,  26,  95. 

[  * 


Lion's  Whelp    (ship),  60, 

61,  66,  73,  74,  76. 
Liverwort,  25,  94. 
Lobsters,  28,  97. 
London  (Eng. ),  59. 

Mackerell,  27,  96. 

Marble,  23,  91. 

Marble-harbour,  23,  91. 

Margate  (Eng.),  61. 

Martins,  26,  95. 

Massachusetts,  113. 

Massachusetts  Bay,  22,  90. 

Massachusetts  Bay,  settle- 
ment at,  37,  107. 

Massachusetts  Bay  Com- 
pany, 6. 

Masts,  26,  95. 

Matinack,  1 14. 

Maverick,  John,  125, 

Mayflower  (ship),  60,  125. 

Mecadacut,  1 14. 

Meere,  Mr.,  64. 

Melons,  1 10. 

Metinacus,  114. 

Milk,  23,  92. 

Minerals,  23,  91. 

Molke,  26,  95. 

Monahigan,  1 14. 

Moose,  26,  95. 

Mosquitoes,  33,  103. 

Mulberries,  25,  94. 

Mullet,  28,  97. 

Mussels,  28,  97. 

Names  of  places,  113. 

Neihumkek,  78,  79,  113; 
see  also  Salem. 

New  England,  21,  89;  soil, 
22, 90, 1 09;  minerals,  23, 
9 1 ;  growth  of  vegetables, 
25,  93;  woods,  26,  95; 
wild  beasts,  26,  95;  fish, 


INDEX 


27,  96>  air*  29»  98>  sea- 
sons,  30,  100;  birds,  31, 
I  o  I ;  discomforts,  33,103; 
winters,  33,  103;  unoc- 
cupied land  in,  34,  104; 
condition  of  plantation  in, 
36,  107;  reasons  for  set- 
tling in,  41;  journal  of 
voyage  to,  57;  healthful- 
ness,  82,  no;  clothing 
for,  ill;  arms  for,  1 1 1 ; 
tools  for,  111,121;  house- 
hold implements  for,  112, 
1 2 1 ;  places  in,  113;  fur- 
ther emigration  to,  117; 
cost  of  transportation  to, 
119;  food  for,  1 20. 

' « New-England' s  Planta- 
tion," manuscript  sent  to 
England,  7 ;  editions  print- 
ed, 7 ;  reprinted,  8 ;  biblio- 
graphical description,  8 ; 
census  of  known  copies, 
10;  facsimile  of  first  edi- 
tion, 17;  reprint  of  third 
edition,  87. 

Norwich,  114. 

Nowell,  Increase,  1 19, 1 25. 

Nusket,  1 1 4. 

Oak  trees,  26,  95. 
Oatmeal,  1 1 1 . 
Oil,  32,  102,  i  ii. 
Onions,  25,  94. 
Otters,  26,  95. 
Oxford,  113. 
Oysters,  28,  97. 

Parsnips,  25,  93. 
Partridges,  31,  101. 
Passasaquack,  113. 
Pease,  25,  93,  no,  ill. 
Pennobscot,  1 1 4. 


Pennyroyal,  25,  94. 

Pemmayquid,  1 14. 

Pigeons,  31,  101. 

Pine  trees,  26,  32,  95,  102. 

Pitch,  26,  95. 

Plague    destroyed    Indians, 

Planters  at  Neihumkek,  36, 

107. 

Plymouth,  24,  93,  113. 
Portsmouth  (Eng.),  62. 
Pumpkins,  25,  94,  no. 

Raspberries,  25,  94. 
Rattlesnakes,  33,  103. 
Roses,  25,  78,  94. 

Sagadahock,  113. 

Sagoquas,  113. 

St.  Johns  towne,  1 1 4. 

Salem,  Landing  at,  6;  name, 
22,  37,  90,  107,  113; 
harbor,  27,  96;  wells,  29, 
98;  houses,  36,  37,  107, 
1 08;  number  of  settlers, 
36,  107;  harbor,  79. 

Salmon,  27,  97. 

Salt,  28,  98. 

Saltpeter,  26,  95. 

Sandwich,  113. 

Sassafras,  26,  95. 

Sassanows  Mount,  113. 

Schools  of  Europe,  4 1 . 

Seasickness,  62,  64, 

Segocket,  1 1 4. 

Sheep,  1 1 8. 

Ships,  60. 

Shuter's  hill,  113. 

Sickness,  29,  62,  64,  99. 

Skate,  28,  97. 

Skelton,  Rev.  Samuel,  6,  53, 

54- 
Smallpox,  65,  66,  70,  75. 


INDEX 


Smith,  Rev.,  67. 
Smith,  Capt.  John,  114. 
Smith's  Isles,  113. 
Snake  weed,  33,  104. 
Snakes,  33,  103. 
Snowdon  hill,  113. 
Soap  ashes,  26,  95. 
Soil  of  New  England,  22,90. 
Soldiers,  36,  107. 
Sorrel,  25,  94. 
Southampton,  113. 
Sowocatuck,  113. 
Sparke,  Michael,  17,  87. 
Spices,  112. 
Spruce  trees,  26,  95. 
Squirrels,  26,  95. 
Stone,  Building,  23,  95. 
Storm  at  sea,  69. 
Strawberries,    25,   31,    78, 

94,  101. 
Sturgeon,  28,  97. 
Sumach,  26,  95. 

Talbot  (ship),  60,  61. 
Tar,  26,  95. 
Thornback,  28,  97. 
Tools  for  New  England,  1 1 1 . 
Torches,  32,  103. 
Totan,  113. 
Trees,  26,  95. 
Turbot,  28,  97. 
Turkeys,  31,  101. 


Turnips,  25,  93. 
Turpentine,  26,  95. 

Vegetables,  25,  93. 

Vinegar,  1 1 1 . 

Voyage  to  New  England,  59. 

Walnuts,  25,  94. 
Wapping  (Eng.),  119. 
Watercress,  25,  94. 
Weapons    of  Indians,    35, 

105. 

Wells,  29,  98. 
Whales,  27,  96. 
White,  John,  125. 
White  benjamin  gum,    26, 

95- 

Whitethorn,  25,  94. 
Wild  cats,  26,  95. 
Willow  trees,  26,  95. 
Willowbies  Isles,  114. 
Winship,  George  Parker,  1 1 . 
Wintersavory,  25,  94. 
Winter  season,  33,  103. 
Winthrop,  Forth,  125. 
Winthrop,  Robert  C.,  125. 
Wolves,  26,  95. 
Wood,  William,  7. 
Woods,  26,  94. 

Yarmouth  (Eng.),  63. 
Young,  Alexander,  8,  125. 


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